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Committee introduces cleanup to annual driver's‑education law; adds homeschool online options
Summary
A committee voted to introduce RS 32,069, a cleanup to Idaho's annual driver's‑education law that clarifies agency responsibilities and allows the State Department of Education to approve online options for homeschooled students, Representative Ron Mendy said.
Representative Ron Mendy, speaking to the committee, introduced RS 32,069, a cleanup to the state's annual driver's‑education law that clarifies responsibilities among agencies and adds approved online options for some homeschooled students.
The bill is designed to resolve implementation issues from the program's launch July 1 of last year. "To date there have been 155 students who have done it, 808 are in the process of doing it and there have been 12 that did not complete," Mendy told the committee, adding, "it's a popular program. I think it's gonna be big in the future." He said the changes mainly clarify which questions the Idaho Transportation Department should answer and tidy language in several sections.
Mendy said the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) has been the provider for the online course but that some homeschool families prefer not to enroll through IDLA's public‑school process. "The state department of education has agreed to come up with a list of other options that are approved that could do it," he said, describing the change at line 47, page 2 of the draft.
During discussion Representative Harris asked why the bill focused on rural areas; Mendy described the current measure as a compromise necessary to secure prior support and said outstanding issues could be addressed in future legislation.
Representative Van Dyke moved to introduce RS 32,069. The committee introduced the bill by voice vote; the chair called for aye and, hearing no opposition, said the motion passed.
The measure was presented as a technical cleanup and an access clarification for homeschoolers; it does not, in the committee discussion, attach new funding or specify implementation timelines.
