Training program for school bus operators

A. The Board shall promulgate regulations requiring persons applying for employment, and employed, to operate school buses to complete a training program developed by the Board.

B. For applicants not currently possessing a commercial driver's license, such regulations shall require (i) a minimum of 24 hours of classroom training administered pursuant to this section and (ii) six hours of behind-the-wheel training on a school bus that contains no pupil passengers. For applicants currently possessing a commercial driver's license, such regulations shall require (a) a minimum of four hours of classroom training administered pursuant to this section and (b) three hours of behind-the-wheel training on a school bus that contains no pupil passengers. Behind-the-wheel training shall be administered under the direct on-board supervision of a designated school bus driver trainer.

C. The training program developed by the Board:

1. Shall include in-person instruction on safety protocols for responding to adverse weather conditions, unsafe conditions during loading and unloading of students, students on the wrong bus, and other circumstances, as determined by the Board, where student safety is at risk;

2. May offer the option for an applicant for employment to complete all or any portion of the required hours of classroom training in a remote online format, as determined by the local school division, except as otherwise provided in subdivision 1; and

3. May offer the option for an applicant for employment to receive instruction in the Spanish language for all or any portion of the required hours of classroom training, as determined by the local school division.

Code 1950, § 22-276.3; 1977, c. 393; 1980, c. 559; 2018, cc. 203 , 389 ; 2019, c. 769 ; 2023, c. 156 .