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IA SF448
IA SF448A bill for an act relating to department of education school bus driver authorization and approved courses of instruction.(Formerly SSB 1161.)
summary
Introduced
02/26/2025
02/26/2025
In Committee
03/20/2025
03/20/2025
Crossed Over
03/19/2025
03/19/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
Under current law, a person applying for employment or employed as a school bus driver is required to successfully complete a course of instruction for school bus drivers approved by the department of education (DE) before or within the first 6 months of employment and at least every 24 months thereafter. If a school bus driver fails to provide an employer with a certificate of completion of the course, the driver’s employer must report the failure to DE and the employee’s authorization to operate a school bus must be revoked. A person whose school bus authorization has been revoked is prohibited from being issued another authorization until certification of the completion of a course is received by DE. This bill exempts school bus drivers from being required to complete a course unless the school district employing the driver requires it. A school bus driver whose authorization is revoked may receive authorization without completion of a course if the driver is subsequently employed by a school district that does not require successful completion of a course, so long as the driver is otherwise eligible for authorization. If a school bus driver’s school district requires successful completion of a course, the driver must comply with the course requirements under current law.
AI Summary
This bill modifies existing Iowa law regarding school bus driver training and certification requirements, giving individual school districts more flexibility in mandating driver training courses. Under the proposed changes, school bus drivers would no longer be universally required to complete a department of education approved training course, but instead would only need to do so if their specific school district mandates it. If a school district does require the course, drivers must still complete it before or within the first six months of employment and then every 24 months thereafter. The bill maintains existing requirements that school bus drivers must hold a valid driver's license, have a medical certification, and be prohibited from operating a school bus with a temporary restricted license. Additionally, if a driver fails to complete a required course, their school bus authorization can still be revoked, but they may regain authorization by either completing the course or being hired by a school district that does not require the training course, provided they are otherwise eligible.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Transportation (Senate)
Last Action
Subcommittee: Williams, Gosa and Henderson. H.J. 03/03. (on 03/03/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF448 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF448.html |
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