The Senate Education Committee is expected to approve a driver's education reform bill on Thursday Feb. 13.

Senate Bill 32 would require school districts to fund driver's education through student fees and the Automobile Driver Education Tax Account instead of school district funds.

Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Salt Lake, sponsored the bill, which leaves academic money for academic subjects and would redirect $1.25 million in school district revenues.

Walker's intern Erin Grygoa said the bill would prohibit school districts from paying for real costs such as car insurance and maintenance.

"Many people want to get rid of the driver's education program completely, while others want it to stay," Grygoa said. "This is really the compromise bill."

Walker's main concern is to leave academic money for academic subjects, Grygoa said.

"Student fees may be raised should students choose to continue driver's education enrollment, but they are trying to offer just classroom instruction and have private providers take them out on driving time," she said. "If schools want to do everything, they will have to raise fees even higher."

Private driver's education providers such as the A-1 Koachman Driving School require 18 hours of classroom time and 12 hours of-behind-the-wheel training, according to Koachman's Web site.

Driver's education classes in Jordan school district take place during the school day. The bill proposes the courses be taught before or after school.

Courses will also be offered online and by home study.

Grygoa said the option lies with the school board.

All of Jordan school district's secondary schools participate in the traditional driver's education program, said Deborah Swensen, Jordan High School's assistant principal.

At Brighton High School, students are charged $65 for a trimester of classroom instruction.

In addition to student funding, the Automobile Driver Education Tax Account would provide supporting funds.

Every time a Utah driver registers their car, they make a $2.50 contribution to the Automobile Driver Education Tax Account, Grygoa said.

The state will set a standard for each school board to abide by.

The standard will set requirements on what is taught and offered in driver's education courses.

"Everything will be consistent," Grygoa said. "There will be no differences between northern and southern Utah."

Grygoa said the bill has been through the committee and is now on the third reading, which means the Senate must approve it one more time before the bill is sent to the House.

"The Senate discussed the bill Tuesday and is expected to approve the bill on Thursday," she said. "It is in-process and hopefully will be approved by the end of the legislative session on March 5."

Walker said she wants the new program requirements to be implemented by the next school year.