Section 19-143-7 - School bus driver training and qualification file(a) For the purposes of pre-service training, every employer of a school bus driver shall inform and educate each driver about the laws and rules relating to school bus operation before allowing the driver to transport school students. Employers shall test the driver's knowledge of this chapter by administering the examination provided by the department. The employer shall not permit anyone who has not completed the examination with a passing score of seventy-eight percent to transport students in a school bus.(b) Every employer of a school bus driver shall acquaint the driver with the routes and operations of a school bus by having the prospective driver operate the bus on a school bus route under supervision. The supervisor shall certify that the driver has performed satisfactorily. The employer shall not permit anyone who has not performed satisfactorily to transport students in a school bus.(c) For the purposes of in-service training, every employer of a school bus driver shall provide an annual eight-hour school bus driver in-service training program approved by the department, provided that for drivers with five years of continuous experience with their current employer/ this requirement shall be biannual, including but not limited to the following topics:(1) The role and responsibilities of the school bus driver;(2) Accidents and emergencies including first aid;(3) Bus maintenance and inspection; and(4) Driving fundamentals. Employers who do not have training programs may arrange to have their drivers attend training programs approved by the department and offered by other companies. Every school bus driver shall attend the training sessions. Drivers who fail to attend the training sessions shall have their school bus driver operating privilege revoked by the department.
(d) Each employer of a school bus driver shall maintain a current driver qualification file for each driver the employer employs which includes a record of the following: (1) Current medical certificate;(2) Annual traffic abstract from Hawaii and the state in which the driver is licensed;(3) Copy of valid driver's license of appropriate class, type 3 or 4 as designated by HRS;(4) Copy of bus driver's examination on school bus laws and rules;(5) Participation in school bus driver training activities;(6) Commendations or complaints;(7) Accidents involving the bus driver; and(8) Certification of a negative tuberculosis examination. The employer shall provide the driver qualification file for review upon request by any state or county agency whose responsibilities include pupil transportation safety.
[Eff APR 27 1989] (Auth: HRS § 286-181) (Imp: HRS § 286-181)