To amend sections 3301.07 and 4508.02 of the Revised Code to require certain driver education courses to include thirty minutes of instruction relating to anatomical gifts and anatomical gift procedures.

Section 1. That sections 3301.07 and 4508.02 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3301.07.  The state board of education shall exercise under the acts of the general assembly general supervision of the system of public education in the state. In addition to the powers otherwise imposed on the state board under the provisions of law, the board shall have the following powers:

(A) Exercise policy forming, planning, and evaluative functions for the public schools of the state, and for adult education, except as otherwise provided by law;

(B) Exercise leadership in the improvement of public education in this state, and administer the educational policies of this state relating to public schools, and relating to instruction and instructional material, building and equipment, transportation of pupils, administrative responsibilities of school officials and personnel, and finance and organization of school districts, educational service centers, and territory. Consultative and advisory services in such matters shall be provided by the board to school districts and educational service centers of this state. The board also shall develop a standard of financial reporting which shall be used by all school districts and educational service centers to make their financial information available to the public in a format understandable by the average citizen and provide year-to-year comparisons for at least five years. The format shall show, among other things, district and educational service center revenue by source; expenditures for salaries, wages, and benefits of employees, showing such amounts separately for classroom teachers, other employees required to hold licenses issued pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code, and all other employees; expenditures other than for personnel, by category, including utilities, textbooks and other educational materials, equipment, permanent improvements, pupil transportation, extracurricular athletics, and other extracurricular activities; and per pupil expenditures.

(C) Administer and supervise the allocation and distribution of all state and federal funds for public school education under the provisions of law, and may prescribe such systems of accounting as are necessary and proper to this function. It may require county auditors and treasurers, boards of education, educational service center governing boards, treasurers of such boards, teachers, and other school officers and employees, or other public officers or employees, to file with it such reports as it may prescribe relating to such funds, or to the management and condition of such funds.

(D) Formulate and prescribe minimum standards to be applied to all elementary and secondary schools in this state for the purpose of requiring a general education of high quality. Such standards shall provide adequately for: the licensing of teachers, administrators, and other professional personnel and their assignment according to training and qualifications; efficient and effective instructional materials and equipment, including library facilities; the proper organization, administration, and supervision of each school, including regulations for preparing all necessary records and reports and the preparation of a statement of policies and objectives for each school; buildings, grounds, health and sanitary facilities and services; admission of pupils, and such requirements for their promotion from grade to grade as will assure that they are capable and prepared for the level of study to which they are certified; requirements for graduation; and such other factors as the board finds necessary.

In the formulation and administration of such standards for nonpublic schools the board shall also consider the particular needs, methods and objectives of those schools, provided they do not conflict with the provision of a general education of a high quality and provided that regular procedures shall be followed for promotion from grade to grade of pupils who have met the educational requirements prescribed.

(E) Formulate and prescribe minimum standards for driver education courses conducted at high schools in the state or by educational service centers or joint vocational school district boards of education. In the formulation of standards for driver education courses, the board shall call upon the director of public safety for advice and assistance. The standards shall require twenty-four hours of classroom instruction, and eight hours of actual behind-the-wheel instruction conducted on public streets and highways of this state, but shall not require any additional hours of observation within a vehicle. The board shall require energy conservation information as part of the driver education curriculum. Such information shall include, but need not be limited to, the identification of inefficient driving techniques and improper maintenance as they relate to decreased gas mileage, information regarding the costs and benefits of different modes of travel, and information concerning relative fuel economy and life-cycle costs of new automobile purchases. The board also shall require financial responsibility information as part of the driver education curriculum. In addition, the board shall require that of the twenty-four hours of classroom instruction prescribed by this division, thirty minutes of that time be devoted to anatomical gifts and anatomical gift procedures. The board also may require as part of the health and driver education curricula curriculum information developed under section 2108.15 of the Revised Code promoting the donation of anatomical gifts pursuant to Chapter 2108. of the Revised Code and may provide the information to high schools, educational service centers, and joint vocational school district boards of education.

(F) Prepare and submit annually to the governor and the general assembly a report on the status, needs, and major problems of the public schools of the state, with recommendations for necessary legislative action and a ten-year projection of the state's public and nonpublic school enrollment, by year and by grade level;

(G) Prepare and submit to the director of budget and management the biennial budgetary requests of the state board of education, for its agencies and for the public schools of the state;

(H) Cooperate with federal, state, and local agencies concerned with the health and welfare of children and youth of the state;

(I) Require such reports from school districts and educational service centers, school officers, and employees as are necessary and desirable. The superintendents and treasurers of school districts and educational service centers shall certify as to the accuracy of all reports required by law or state board or state department of education rules to be submitted by the district or educational service center and which contain information necessary for calculation of state funding. Any superintendent who knowingly falsifies such report shall be subject to license revocation pursuant to section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.

(J) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, adopt procedures, standards, and guidelines for the education of handicapped children pursuant to Chapter 3323. of the Revised Code, including procedures, standards, and guidelines governing programs and services operated by county boards of mental retardation and developmental disabilities pursuant to section 3323.09 of the Revised Code;

(K) For the purpose of encouraging the development of special programs of education for academically gifted children, employ competent persons to analyze and publish data, promote research, advise and counsel with boards of education, and encourage the training of teachers in the special instruction of gifted children. The board may provide financial assistance out of any funds appropriated for this purpose to boards of education and educational service center governing boards for developing and conducting programs of education for academically gifted children.

(L) Require that all public schools emphasize and encourage, within existing units of study, the teaching of energy and resource conservation as recommended to each district board of education by leading business persons involved in energy production and conservation, beginning in the primary grades;

(M) Formulate and prescribe minimum standards requiring the use of phonics as a technique in the teaching of reading in grades kindergarten through three. In addition, the state board shall provide in-service training programs for teachers on the use of phonics as a technique in the teaching of reading in grades kindergarten through three.

(N) Develop and modify as necessary a state plan for technology to encourage and promote the use of technological advancements in educational settings.

The board may adopt rules necessary for carrying out any function imposed on it by law, and may provide rules as are necessary for its government and the government of its employees, and may delegate to the superintendent of public instruction the management and administration of any function imposed on it by law. It may provide for the appointment of board members to serve on temporary committees established by the board for such purposes as are necessary. Permanent or standing committees shall not be created.

Sec. 4508.02.  (A) The director of public safety, subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt and prescribe such rules concerning the administration and enforcement of this chapter as are necessary to protect the public. The director shall inspect the school facilities and equipment of applicants and licensees and examine applicants for instructor's licenses.

(B) The director shall administer and enforce this chapter, and may call upon the state superintendent of public instruction for assistance in developing and formulating the rules for training beginning drivers.

(C) The rules shall require twenty-four hours of classroom instruction of which thirty minutes shall be devoted to anatomical gifts and anatomical gift procedures, and eight hours of actual behind-the-wheel instruction conducted on public streets and highways of this state for all beginning drivers of noncommercial motor vehicles who are under age eighteen.

(D) The rules shall state the minimum hours for classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction required for beginning drivers of commercial trucks, commercial cars, buses, and commercial tractors, trailers, and semi-trailers.

Section 2. That existing sections 3301.07 and 4508.02 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.