(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.
