EEAEA
BUS  DRIVER  REQUIREMENTS,  TRAINING,
AND  RESPONSIBILITIES

Bus drivers employed by the District or employed by contractors who provide transportation services to the District shall comply with applicable provisions of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and all applicable requirements of the state of Arizona.

Bus drivers shall submit an Identity Verified Fingerprint Card as described in A.R.S. 15-106 that the Department of Public Safety shall use to process the fingerprint clearance card as outlined in A.R.S. 15-106.  A person who is issued a School Bus Driver Certificate (SBDC) shall maintain a valid Identity Verified Fingerprint Clearance Card for the duration of any SBDC period. 

Bus drivers are required to possess a commercial driver license with passenger and school bus endorsements issued by the Arizona Department of Transportation and an SBDC issued by the Department of Public Safety, except that the driver may possess a commercial driver license issued by another state if the applicant will be driving a school bus for a school district that is adjacent to that state.  An applicant may apply for the position without a commercial driver license and SBDC but must obtain one immediately following the completion of their training period.  An applicant who fails to obtain their commercial driver license and/or SBDC will have their offer of employment revoked.

All new bus drivers obtaining a commercial driver license and hired after February 7, 2022, must meet Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements as prescribed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in accordance with MAP-21 (49 CFR Part 380) and documented in the Training Provider Registry.

A bus driver is required to complete a Department of Transportation physical examination conducted by a licensed medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry every twenty-four (24) months or less if determined by the medical examiner.

A bus driver who fails to maintain a commercial driver license, SBDC or Identity Verified Fingerprint Card may be disciplined in accordance with District policy up to and including being terminated from employment.

Licenses  for  §15-925  Vehicles

A person shall not operate a vehicle described in section §15-925 to transport school children unless the person possesses the appropriate license class for the size of the vehicle being operated, a school bus driver certificate that is issued by the Department of Public Safety and a valid fingerprint clearance card.

The District will assume the cost of required physical examinations, and the drivers will assume the cost of obtaining valid commercial driver's licenses as required by law.

Adopted:  October 12, 2022

LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-106
15-925
28-857
28-3228
A.A.C.
R17-4-508 et seq.

CROSS REF.:
EEAEB - Bus Purchasing and Maintenance
GBEFA - Staff Use of Digital Wireless Communications or
                Electronic Devices While Operating a Motor Vehicle
GDFA - Support Staff Qualifications and Requirements
                (fingerprinting requirements)