House File 77HOUSE 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