The medical examination will be prescribed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education instead of the Department of Revenue. The provision of current law that allows applicants younger than 70 years of age to renew operator's permits every 3 years remains unchanged. The substitute also denies public school bus operator's permits to applicants who have pled guilty or been found guilty of specified felonies or misdemeanors. Current law only denies permits to applicants who have been convicted of these crimes. Offenses involving the endangerment of a child, weapons offenses, and drug offenses are added to those specified felonies or misdemeanors that permanently disqualify a person from receiving a permit.
Current law related to the issuance of temporary school bus operator's permits is unchanged.
This restriction will be noted on the school bus permit of the person and it will be unlawful for the person to operate a school bus upon any public highway of this state unless he or she is at the time complying with the restriction. This substitute has an emergency clause. No impact on state funds. Supporters say that this bill will give school districts access to more qualified bus drivers. Also, few states have school bus driver age limits, and there is no age limit for a charter bus permit.