House File 9 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 9 BY HUNTER A BILL FOR An Act providing for reduced automobile insurance premiums 1 for older adults who complete a certified driver safety 2 education course. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1207YH (2) 86 ns/nh
H.F. 9 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 321.178B Driver safety education 1 program. 2 1. The department, in consultation with the department 3 of public safety, shall provide for the establishment of 4 a certified driver safety education course to be offered 5 throughout the state. The department shall adopt rules to 6 administer this section, including but not limited to rules 7 establishing curriculum requirements, hours of instruction, and 8 instructor qualifications. The rules shall provide for the 9 administration of a written test and issuance of a certificate 10 to demonstrate a person’s successful completion of the course 11 for purposes of qualifying for an automobile insurance premium 12 discount under section 516B.4. 13 2. The department may establish refresher courses based on 14 the curriculum offered in the driver safety education course. 15 A person who successfully completes a refresher course approved 16 by the department within three years of obtaining a driver 17 safety education certificate under subsection 1 shall be issued 18 a new certificate. For the purpose of maintaining eligibility 19 for an automobile insurance premium discount under section 20 516B.4, a person may continue to be recertified by successfully 21 completing a refresher course at least once every three years. 22 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 516B.4 Senior driver insurance premium 23 reduction. 24 1. The commissioner shall require that beginning January 25 1, 2016, an insurance company transacting business in this 26 state shall provide a premium reduction of at least ten percent 27 for an automobile insurance policy, as defined in section 28 515D.2, issued to a person fifty-five years of age or older 29 who has completed a certified driver safety education course 30 or refresher course within the last three years, as evidenced 31 by a certificate issued pursuant to section 321.178B. If the 32 person entitled to the premium reduction is insured under a 33 policy covering more than one driver, the amount of the premium 34 reduction may be prorated according to the number of insured 35 -1- LSB 1207YH (2) 86 ns/nh 1/ 2
H.F. 9 drivers covered under the policy who qualify for the reduced 1 premium. 2 2. An insurance company may revoke a premium reduction 3 provided pursuant to subsection 1 for an insured driver who 4 is involved in a motor vehicle accident during the period of 5 the premium reduction if the driver committed a violation of 6 chapter 321 that was a contributing factor in the accident. 7 EXPLANATION 8 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 9 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 10 This bill requires the department of transportation, in 11 consultation with the department of public safety, to establish 12 a certified driver safety education course to be offered 13 throughout the state. A person who successfully completes the 14 driver safety education course shall be issued a certificate. 15 Beginning January 1, 2016, the commissioner of insurance 16 shall require insurers transacting business in this state to 17 provide a 10 percent automobile insurance premium reduction 18 for persons 55 years of age or older who have obtained a 19 driver safety education course certificate within the last 20 three years. The premium reduction may be prorated based on 21 the number of insured drivers under the policy who qualify 22 for the reduction. In addition, the insurer may revoke the 23 premium reduction for a driver who is involved in a motor 24 vehicle accident if the driver committed a violation of the 25 state’s motor vehicle laws that was a contributing factor in 26 the accident. 27 The bill authorizes the department of transportation to 28 develop refresher courses which may be taken by a person in 29 lieu of the full driver safety education course in order to 30 continue to qualify for the insurance premium reduction. 31 -2- LSB 1207YH (2) 86 ns/nh 2/ 2