The Chair opened the hearing on HB2031.

Mr. Siebers explained that the bill permits driving school instructors and motorcycle driving school instructors to possess a driver's license from any state (Attachment 5).  He said the bill also allows motorcycle driving instructors to hold a valid class M driver's license or its equivalent from another state.

Zach Denney, Director of Government Affairs, Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR), spoke as a proponent for the bill (Attachment 6).  He commented that KDOR is responsible for overseeing the state's driving schools; many driving schools struggle to find qualified teachers.  The bill will remove the requirement that driving school instructors hold a Kansas driver's license and would apply to both motorcycle driving schools and standard driving schools.  Responding to a question, Dick Carter, representing Johnson County Community College, said the bill focuses on Johnson County, but would also apply to other driving schools in the state.

Written-only support for the bill was provided by Janel Duax, Program Coordinator - Motorcycle Training, Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Johnson County Community College (Attachment 7).