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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 Mon, Jan 31, 2022
Chairperson Baumgardner opened final action on SB215.
Tamara Lawrence, Revisor, gave an overview of SB215. (Attachment 1)
The Chair called for an amendment requested by Johnson County Community College be introduced that includes technical amendments having to do with dates and the language request to add the phrase "and any community college conducting an approved course and driver training to section" which would allow community colleges to participate in the state safety fund. (Attachment 2) Discussion followed. Dick Carter, Johnson County Community College (JCCC), said the purpose of this amendment was to reclassify JCCC's Driver's Education Program as a public institution rather than a commercial entity.
Senator Dietrich expressed a concern that State Safety Fund would become diluted. John Hess, Director of Fiscal Services and Operations, Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), explained that the dollar amount per student would not go down significantly.
Senator Pettey moved to accept the amendment;Senator Sykes seconded. Motion passed.
This bill was designed at the request of several different agencies in order to simplify all facets having to do with driver education under one department. Discussion ensued regarding the funding to community colleges. Many high schools have discontinued their driver's education course because it is costly. This forces students to take a course at a private business or a community college causing them to pay full tuition.
The Chair asked of the Committee if they wanted to take action or would prefer to wait for more information.
Information requested:
- Due to the significant drop in enrollment in driver's ed, what effect has that had on traffic violations and fatalities?
- Are fewer instructors making fewer slots for students to take a courses, causing more students to attend a class at a community college?
- How many schools are offering drivers education during the day as an elective and therefore they're getting a credit course funding for that course, versus those that offered as a summer or outside of the normal school day and are not getting a credit course funding.
- Sometimes you get a discount on your insurance if you have taken drivers ed. What is the cost differential for a student driver who takes driver ed, versus the students who do not.
- Background on the state safety fund including data on the fund over the last 60 months or so? Other revenue streams, or what else it funds.
- What are those State Safety Fund dollars being spent on? As a point of information cost of leasing cars, paying the additional insurance for the student drivers, paying the salary of the instructors.
Chairperson Baumgardner closed the possible final action on SB215 to be continued at a later time.
