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Minutes for SB215 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Transferring the authority for postsecondary driver's education programs and driver training schools from the state board of regents to the department of revenue.
Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 27, 2022
Chairperson Baumgardner opened the hearing on SB215 by asking the Revisor to give an overview of the bill.
Tamara Lawrence gave an overview of SB215.(Attachment 1)
Kent Selk, Driver Services Manager, Kansas Department of Revenue, testified in support of the bill and explained a stated goal for his division for 2022 is to expand and improve the working partnership with operators of the driver education programs. The division has implemented changes in the licensing process in the past two years which includes adding additional electronic services and development of a mobile drivers licensing staff.
Currently, Kansas law assigns management authority for driver education amongst three different State agencies which includes Kansas Division of Vehicles, Kansas State Board of Education, and Kansas Board of Regents. These Agencies all believe it would be in the State's best interest if such licensing responsibility was centralized with one Agency, Kansas Division of Vehicles because 1) promoting driver safety and qualifications are the division core focus; 2) students in driver education programs eventually must work with State's driver's license examiners; and 3) the division manages the central database that all driver education schools interact with.
Kansas Division of Vehicles will rely upon private commercial driver education programs or State approved education district or school programs to complete written and drive skills testing that is normally conducted at the State driver's license exam station. The State of Kansas benefits from such programs for it improves driver safety and reduces the lines and speeds up appointment times for other license applicants. (Attachment 2) Discussion followed.
Jimmy Bowie, Program Coordinator for Transportation Programs at Johnson County Community College (JCCC), oversees Driver's Education, Motorcycle Training and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Training. JCCC supports this bill. This bill clearly defines the role of community colleges conducting Motorcycle Training and Commercial Driver's License training and state training reimbursement eligibility. The bill and existing statutes are less clear regarding driver's education but the option for community colleges to provide driver's education is not considered in this bill.
It is the request of the division that community colleges be designated and held to the same requirements as public schools offering driver's education. If designated as a public school provider of driver's education, community colleges would be eligible for training reimbursement. This reimbursement will allow us to serve more students and create safer roads for our State.(Attachment 3) Discussion followed.
Written Proponent testimony was submitted by:
Blake Flanders, President and CEO, Kansas Board of Regents (Attachment 4)
R. Scott Gordon, General Counsel, Kansas State Department of Education (Attachment 5)
The Chair asked for a motion to approve the Minutes of January 11, 2022, January 12, 2022, and January 13, 2022. Senator Pettey moved and Senator Sykes seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The Chair requested the Revisor prepare an amendment to include community colleges be designated and held to the same requirements as public schools offering driver's education.
Chairman Baumgardner closed the hearing on SB215.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:59 pm. The next meeting will be held January 31, 2022, 1:30 pm in room 144-S.
