Bill Text: VA SB557 | 2018 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: School bus operators; classroom and behind-the-wheel training.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-03-05 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0203) [SB557 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-SB557-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§22.1-181 and 46.2-339 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§22.1-181. Training program for school bus operators.
The Board of Education shall develop a training program for persons applying for employment, and employed, to operate school buses and shall promote its implementation. For new 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 new 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. For applicants with a valid and unexpired commercial driver's license with valid P and S endorsements who were not removed for cause from a prior position operating a school bus, such regulations shall require (1) a minimum of four hours of classroom training administered pursuant to this section and (2) 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.
§46.2-339. Qualifications of school bus operators; training; examination.
A. No person shall drive operate any
school bus on a highway in the Commonwealth unless he has had a reasonable
amount of experience in driving operating motor vehicles,
and has passed a special examination pertaining to his ability to drive
operate a school bus with safety to its passengers and to other persons
using the highways. Such person shall obtain a commercial driver's license with
the applicable classifications and endorsements, issued pursuant to the
Virginia Commercial Driver's License Act (§46.2-341.1 et seq.), if the school
bus he drives operates is a commercial motor vehicle as defined
in the Virginia Commercial Driver's License Act. For the purpose of preparing
for the examination required by this section, any person holding a valid
driver's license issued under Article 4 of this chapter, may drive, under the
direct supervision of a person holding a valid school bus license endorsement,
a school bus which contains no other passengers, provided that, on and after
April 1, 1992, only persons holding a valid commercial driver's license or
instruction permit issued under the provisions of the Virginia Commercial
Driver's License Act, may operate, under the direct supervision of a
person holding a valid commercial driver's license with a school bus
endorsement, a school bus which that is a commercial motor
vehicle as defined in the Virginia Commercial Driver's License Act and which
that contains no pupil passengers.
B. The Department may adopt regulations necessary to
provide for the examination of persons desiring to qualify to drive
operate school buses in the Commonwealth and for the granting of permits to
qualified applicants.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section
otherwise, no person shall drive operate any school bus on a
highway in the Commonwealth during any period in which he is a person for whom
registration with the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry is
required pursuant to Chapter 9 (§9.1-900 et seq.) of Title 9.1.
2. That the State Board of Education and the Department of Motor Vehicles' initial adoption of regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act shall be exempt from the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), except that the State Board of Education and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the regulations prior to adoption.
