Senate File 2134
SENATE FILE
BY KREIMAN
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for reduced automobile insurance premiums for
2 older adults who complete a certified driver safety education
3 course.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 5897XS 80
6 dea/gg/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 321.179 DRIVER SAFETY EDUCATION
1 2 PROGRAM.
1 3 1. The department, in consultation with the department of
1 4 public safety, shall provide for the establishment of
1 5 certified driver safety education courses to be offered
1 6 throughout the state. The department shall establish by rule
1 7 requirements relating to curriculum, hours of instruction,
1 8 instructor qualifications, and any other matters deemed
1 9 appropriate by the department. The rules shall provide for
1 10 the administration of a written test and issuance of a
1 11 certificate to demonstrate a person's successful completion of
1 12 the course for purposes of qualifying for an automobile
1 13 insurance premium discount under section 516B.4.
1 14 2. The department may establish refresher courses based on
1 15 the curriculum offered in the driver safety education course.
1 16 A person who successfully completes a refresher course
1 17 approved by the department within three years of obtaining a
1 18 driver safety education certificate under subsection 1 shall
1 19 be issued a new certificate. For the purpose of maintaining
1 20 eligibility for an automobile insurance premium discount under
1 21 section 516B.4, a person may continue to be recertified by
1 22 successfully completing a refresher course every three years.
1 23 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 516B.4 SENIOR DRIVER INSURANCE
1 24 PREMIUM DISCOUNT.
1 25 1. The commissioner shall require that beginning January
1 26 1, 2005, an insurance company transacting business in this
1 27 state shall provide a premium reduction of at least ten
1 28 percent for an automobile insurance policy, as defined in
1 29 section 515D.2, issued to a person fifty years of age or older
1 30 who has completed a certified driver safety education course
1 31 or refresher course within the last three years, as evidenced
1 32 by a certificate issued pursuant to section 321.179. If the
1 33 person entitled to the discounted rate is insured under a
1 34 policy covering more than one driver, the amount of the
1 35 premium reduction may be prorated according to the number of
2 1 insureds covered under the policy who qualify for the lowered
2 2 premium.
2 3 2. The premium reduction required under subsection 1 may
2 4 be revoked for a person who is involved in a motor vehicle
2 5 accident during the period of the premium reduction if it is
2 6 found that the person committed a violation of chapter 321
2 7 that was a contributing factor in the accident.
2 8 EXPLANATION
2 9 This bill requires the state department of transportation,
2 10 in consultation with the department of public safety, to
2 11 establish certified driver safety education courses to be
2 12 offered throughout the state. A person who successfully
2 13 completes a driver safety education course shall be issued a
2 14 certificate.
2 15 The commissioner of insurance shall require, beginning
2 16 January 1, 2005, that insurers transacting business in this
2 17 state must provide a 10 percent automobile insurance premium
2 18 reduction for persons 50 years of age or older who have
2 19 obtained a driver safety education course certificate within
2 20 the last three years. The premium reduction may be prorated,
2 21 based on the number of insureds under the policy who qualify
2 22 for the discount. In addition, the insurer may revoke the
2 23 discount for a person who is involved in a motor vehicle
2 24 accident if a violation of the state's motor vehicle laws is a
2 25 contributing factor in the accident.
2 26 The bill authorizes the department of transportation to
2 27 develop refresher courses which may be taken by a person in
2 28 lieu of the full driver safety education course in order to
2 29 continue to qualify for the insurance premium reduction.
2 30 LSB 5897XS 80
2 31 dea/gg/14