Authorizing certain persons to administer the final field test of an approved driver education course

Under current law, a student driver can complete an approved driver education course which consists of both classroom instruction and street or highway driving instruction. Prior to completion of the course, a final field test must be administered by a person qualified as a classroom driver education instructor and certified to provide street and highway driving instruction.178 requires a person to have satisfied the educational requirements for a teaching license at the elementary or secondary level and hold a valid license to teach driver education in Iowa public schools. To be qualified to provide street or highway driving instruction, a person must be certified by the department of transportation and authorized by the board of educational examiners. However, if the person is a peace officer with five or more years of experience, or a retired peace officer who holds a driver’s license that is valid for more than two years from the date of issuance, the person is not required to be authorized by the board of educational examiners. This bill strikes the provisions relating to who may administer a final field test and authorizes a person who is qualified to provide street or highway driving instruction under current law to administer a final field test.