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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
school bus drivers; license requirements
Purpose
Expands school bus driver certification requirements to allow applicants to possess a commercial driver license (CDL) issued by another state if the applicant will be driving a school bus for a school district in Arizona that is adjacent to that state.
Background
A person is prohibited from operating a school bus unless the person possesses: 1) the appropriate license class for the size of school bus being operated that is issued by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT); 2) a bus endorsement issued by ADOT; and 3) a school bus certificate that is issued by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
To be certified as a school bus driver, a person is required to meet and maintain the minimum standards prescribed by statute and administrative rules adopted by DPS in consultation with the School Bus Advisory Council and complete an initial instructional course on school bus driver safety and training. The standards established include safety requirements, alcohol or drug use testing and hearing testing (A.R.S. § 28-3228).
An applicant for a school bus driver certification must possess a current Arizona CDL (A.A.C. R13-13-102).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows an applicant for a school bus driver certification to have a CDL issued by another state if the applicant will be driving a school bus for a school district in Arizona that is adjacent to that state.
2. Codifies the requirement that an applicant for a school bus driver certification must have a CDL issued by ADOT.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
TRANS 2/12/20 DP 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/25/20 60-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 2, 2020
ZD/ML/kja