House File 562 - Reprinted HOUSE FILE 562 BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO HF 419) (As Amended and Passed by the House March 27, 2017 ) A BILL FOR An Act relating to driver education course instruction by 1 requiring an analysis of current courses and providing 2 that peace officers and retired peace officers qualify as 3 classroom driver education instructors. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 HF 562 (3) 87 kh/nh/md
H.F. 562 Section 1. Section 272.31, Code 2017, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 3A. The board shall issue a classroom 3 driver education instructor authorization for purposes of 4 section 321.178 to a person who completes a training program 5 that meets the standards set by the board, who complies with 6 rules adopted pursuant to subsection 4, and who is either a 7 peace officer as defined in section 801.4, subsection 11, 8 paragraph “a” , “b” , or “h” , or a peace officer in the division 9 of state patrol; or is retired under chapter 97A or 411, or 10 section 97B.49B or 97B.49C, after service as a peace officer as 11 defined in section 801.4, subsection 11, paragraph “a” , “b” , or 12 “h” , or a peace officer in the division of state patrol. The 13 training program shall include but not be limited to a minimum 14 of fifteen contact hours in a program consisting of instruction 15 relating to classroom management, strategies for learning, 16 diversity, and ethics. 17 Sec. 2. Section 321.178, subsection 1, paragraph b, 18 subparagraph (1), Code 2017, is amended to read as follows: 19 (1) To be qualified as a classroom driver education 20 instructor, a person shall have satisfied the educational 21 requirements for a teaching meet one of the following 22 requirements: 23 (a) Hold a valid teacher’s license at the elementary or 24 secondary level and hold a valid license an endorsement to 25 teach driver education in the public schools of this state 26 issued under chapter 272 . 27 (b) Be a peace officer as defined in section 801.4, 28 subsection 11, paragraph “a” , “b” , or “h” , or a peace officer in 29 the division of state patrol; or be retired under chapter 97A 30 or 411, or section 97B.49B or 97B.49C, after service as a peace 31 officer as defined in section 801.4, subsection 11, paragraph 32 “a” , “b” , or “h” , or as a peace officer in the division of state 33 patrol, and meet the requirements of section 272.31, subsection 34 3A. 35 -1- HF 562 (3) 87 kh/nh/md 1/ 2
H.F. 562 Sec. 3. Section 321.178, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 1 2017, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 2 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH . (5) The board of directors of a school 3 district shall not employ a person who meets the requirements 4 of subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (b), as a classroom 5 driver education instructor unless the board has made a 6 good faith effort to fill the classroom driver education 7 instructor position with a person who meets the requirements of 8 subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (a). For the purposes 9 of this subparagraph, “good faith effort” includes advertising 10 for the position in an appropriate publication, interviewing 11 applicants, and giving serious consideration to applicants who 12 hold a license and endorsement to teach driver education. 13 Sec. 4. DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE ANALYSIS. The department 14 of transportation shall conduct an analysis of the driver 15 education courses currently offered in the state and identify 16 best practices for classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction 17 and programming, as well as best practices for the academic 18 and training preparation necessary to prepare persons for 19 employment as classroom and behind-the-wheel instructors. 20 The department shall submit its findings and recommendations 21 for standardization of the state’s driver education course 22 requirements for instructors, curriculum, and training in a 23 report to the general assembly by December 31, 2017. 24 -2- HF 562 (3) 87 kh/nh/md 2/ 2