House File 77 



                                       HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  HUNTER, D. OLSON, SWAIM,
                                           and D. TAYLOR


    Passed House, Date                Passed Senate,  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 1758HH 82
  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 a
  1  5 certified driver safety education course 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 at least every
  1 23 three years.
  1 24    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  516B.4  SENIOR DRIVER INSURANCE
  1 25 PREMIUM DISCOUNT.
  1 26    1.  The commissioner shall require that beginning January
  1 27 1, 2008, an insurance company transacting business in this
  1 28 state shall provide a premium reduction of at least ten
  1 29 percent for an automobile insurance policy, as defined in
  1 30 section 515D.2, issued to a person fifty=five years of age or
  1 31 older who has completed a certified driver safety education
  1 32 course or refresher course within the last three years, as
  1 33 evidenced by a certificate issued pursuant to section 321.179.
  1 34 If the person entitled to the discounted rate is insured under
  1 35 a policy covering more than one driver, the amount of the
  2  1 premium reduction may be prorated according to the number of
  2  2 insureds covered under the policy who qualify for the lowered
  2  3 premium.
  2  4    2.  The premium reduction required under subsection 1 may
  2  5 be revoked for a person who is involved in a motor vehicle
  2  6 accident during the period of the premium reduction if it is
  2  7 found that the person committed a violation of chapter 321
  2  8 that was a contributing factor in the accident.
  2  9                           EXPLANATION
  2 10    This bill requires the department of transportation, in
  2 11 consultation with the department of public safety, to
  2 12 establish a certified driver safety education course to be
  2 13 offered throughout the state.  A person who successfully
  2 14 completes the driver safety education course shall be issued a
  2 15 certificate.
  2 16    The commissioner of insurance shall require, beginning
  2 17 January 1, 2008, that insurers transacting business in this
  2 18 state must provide a 10 percent automobile insurance premium
  2 19 reduction for persons 55 years of age or older who have
  2 20 obtained a driver safety education course certificate within
  2 21 the last three years.  The premium reduction may be prorated,
  2 22 based on the number of insureds under the policy who qualify
  2 23 for the discount.  In addition, the insurer may revoke the
  2 24 discount for a person who is involved in a motor vehicle
  2 25 accident if a violation by the person of the state's motor
  2 26 vehicle laws is a contributing factor in the accident.
  2 27    The bill authorizes the department of transportation to
  2 28 develop refresher courses which may be taken by a person in
  2 29 lieu of the full driver safety education course in order to
  2 30 continue to qualify for the insurance premium reduction.
  2 31 LSB 1758HH 82
  2 32 dea:nh/gg/14