Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-5-3-.08 - School Bus Drivers
(1)
DEFINITIONS.
(a)
Non-resident - a person who
has his or her place of residence in a state other than Georgia.
(b)
Physician - a doctor of
medicine or osteopathy licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board pursuant
to Article 2, Chapter 34, Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated.
(c)
Regular school
bus driver (operator) - a person who is a regularly employed driver
(operator) and who is not on the substitute list.
(d)
Resident - a person who has
his or her place of residence in the state of Georgia.
(e)
School bus driver (operator)
- a person, appropriately licensed, who controls the operation of a
school bus.
(f)
Substitute
school bus driver (operator) - a person who is not a regularly employed
driver (operator).
(g)
School
bus driver trainer - a person who is responsible for the required
initial training of school bus drivers.
(2)
REQUIREMENTS.
(a) The local board of education shall employ
both regular and substitute drivers of school buses upon the recommendation of
the system superintendent of schools.
(b) Local school systems shall select school
bus drivers using the following minimum criteria:
1. The minimum age to qualify as a bus driver
is 18 years.
2. Evidence of a
physical examination by a physician or legally authorized designee within 60
days prior to the date of employment. A physician may delegate to certain
specific healthcare professionals, including physician assistants and certified
nurse practitioners, the authority to sign, certify, and endorse documents
relating to physical examination forms required by the State Board of Education
as authorized by law. See O.C.G.A. ยง
43-34-23,
43-34-25,
43-34-103.
(c) To be considered for reemployment for any
ensuing school year, the driver shall pass the annual medical examination
prescribed by the Department, not more than 60 days before the beginning of the
school year and as often thereafter as the local system's board of education
deems necessary.
(d) Licensing.
1. Local school systems shall ensure that
resident school bus drivers have a Georgia Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
Class A, B or C.
2. School bus
drivers shall obtain a CDL Class A, B or C license with a "S" endorsement,
which authorizes the driver to drive a school bus. (The driver of an
air-brake-equipped bus shall not have an "L" restriction which restricts him or
her to vehicles not equipped with air brakes.)
3. Local school systems shall ensure that
non-resident school bus drivers have an appropriate license, issued by their
home state, to operate a school bus.
(e) Salary.
1. School systems shall not pay to any
regular driver in their employment, regardless of the type of ownership, a
salary less than that prescribed by the state uniform minimum salary schedule
($6,000 annually). The driver shall receive the state minimum daily salary for
12 months provided the driver works the entire school year. The school year
includes any authorized sick and personal leave.
2. Substitute drivers shall be paid by the
local board of education and not by the regular school bus driver. The pay
scale for substitute school bus drivers shall be determined by the local board
of education.
(f) School
Bus Driver Education.
1. Local school systems
shall ensure that every new school bus driver satisfactorily completes a
training program approved by the Department prior to driving a school bus used
to transport students. The initial training program for school bus drivers
shall consist of at least 24 hours of training. A description of the required
training program is found in the Georgia School Bus Driver Training
Manual, available from the Department.
2. Local school systems shall require all
school bus driver trainers be trained and certified through a training program
offered by the Department.
3. Local
school systems shall require all school bus drivers to attend the annual
in-service training and safety programs provided by the Department.
4. Local school systems shall report all
accidents in which school buses are involved to the Department on forms
provided by the Department.
Notes
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