Administrative Rules of Montana › Department 10 - EDUCATION › Chapter 10.7 - PUPIL TRANSPORTATION › Subchapter 10.7.1 - Pupil Transportation › Rule 10.7.111 - BUS DRIVER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT

Current through Register Vol. 13, July 5, 2024
(1) School bus drivers must hold a valid
				Montana school bus driver certificate in order for a district to receive state
				reimbursement for that driver's bus routes. Qualifications for bus drivers are
				prescribed by
				20-10-103,
				MCA, and by the Board of Public Education in ARM
				10.64.201.
(2) The bus driver certificate forms are
				provided electronically by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The school
				district must input all necessary documentation into the Office of Public
				Instruction's electronic pupil transportation system, which generates the
				completed certificate. The chair of the board of trustees signs the certificate
				which is issued to a driver who is authorized and qualified to drive a school
				bus pursuant to all applicable rules, regulations and laws. The district
				retains a copy of each bus driver's certificate, provides a copy to the bus
				service contractor, if applicable, and files a copy with the county
				superintendent. The bus driver is also given a hard copy of the certificate,
				which must be carried at all times while driving a school bus.
(3) The first aid certificate required by ARM
				10.64.201 must include instruction
				in adult and pediatric CPR, be signed by a certified instructor, and be
				received after an initial in-person training of at least four hours. The
				certificate must be renewed every two years. The renewal course may be
				in-person or online.
(4) State
				reimbursement for bus transportation for the full school term will be made only
				when a new driver of the bus has completed the first aid requirement within 60
				days from the employment date. Any bus operated by a driver not so qualified
				will not be eligible for state reimbursement for that portion of the term that
				the driver is not qualified. Drivers who have driven the previous year must
				have the first aid requirement completed before the expiration date on their
				certificate.
(5) In the event a
				district (or contractor) is obligated to employ a driver as a replacement for a
				driver employed at the beginning of the school year, or must employ an
				additional driver, a period of 60 days will be permitted for the new driver to
				acquire the first aid certificate. If after 60 days following the date of first
				employment of the additional or replacement driver, the first aid requirement
				has not been met, the bus operated by the driver will not qualify for state
				reimbursement for that portion of the year that the driver is not qualified,
				including the 60-day grace period.
(6) A school bus driver certificate remains
				valid until the earliest expiration date of the commercial vehicle operator's
				endorsement, the first aid certificate, and/or physical examination. A new
				certificate must be issued to the driver when any of the above items expires
				and is renewed. A driver may not operate a school bus without a valid, current
				certificate.
(7) The qualifications
				of all bus drivers are reviewed at the time the state verification of
				transportation claims is made, as the qualifications of the bus driver are one
				of the criteria for eligibility for reimbursement. With the exception of (4)
				and (5), the State Superintendent will not reimburse for routes driven by
				drivers without a current certificate on file with the Office of Public
				Instruction. If any license, certificate, or examination was expired for any
				period of time, the Office of Public Instruction will withhold transportation
				reimbursement funding for the number of days the driver was not
				qualified.
(8) Districts must
				retain a signed copy of each bus driver certificate on file for audit
				purposes.
20-3-106,
					 20-10-103,
					 20-10-112,
					 MCA; IMP,
					 20-10-103,
					 20-10-112,
					 MCA;