TITLE 37
Part 1, Chapter 14,
Sub-Chapter C, Rule §14.34
School Bus Driver
Certification
(a) To obtain full initial driver
certification, a person must satisfactorily complete the certification course.
The training agency shall issue a "Texas School Bus Driver Safety Training
Certificate," Figure 6: §14.1(6) of this title (relating to Appendix), in
a timely manner, and submit the necessary verification information
electronically to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Figure 8: 14.1(8) of
this title.
(b) Driver certification will
remain valid for a period of three calendar years as indicated by the expiration
date on the certificate.
(c) State law requires that every
driver transporting students in a school bus must hold a valid certificate
stating that they have completed, or are enrolled in, an approved school bus
driver safety training course.
(d) Any school bus driver whose
certification has expired shall not operate a school bus for the transportation
of students until such time as they become recertified or obtain an enrollment
certificate. The following rules shall apply to certification renewals:
(1)
To avoid a lapse in certification, the recertification course must be
completed prior to expiration. The recertification course should be completed
during the six-month (180 day) period immediately preceding certification
expiration. If the required training is completed within this preferred time
interval, certification will then be renewed for a period of three calendar
years from the upcoming expiration date indicated on the current certificate.
(2)
If the recertification course is completed more than 180 days prior to
certification expiration, certification will then be renewed for a period of
three calendar years from the actual date of course completion.
(3)
During the 12-month
interval immediately following certification expiration, the recertification
course may be completed for certification renewal. Certification will then be
renewed for a period of three calendar years from the actual date of course
completion. Failure to satisfactorily complete the recertification course during
this time frame will require completion of the certification course to reinstate
certification status. During this time period, a person shall not drive a school
bus unless he has received an enrollment certificate. Issuance of an enrollment
certificate during this dormant time interval will require the successful
completion of the certification course in order to reinstate full certification
status.
(e) Regardless of the reason, any course instruction missed must be completed by arrangement with the training agency. Except as approved by the training agency, all course requirements for certification must be completed within the 180-day period immediately following the start of instruction, otherwise no credit will be given for any class sessions previously attended. The entire course must be completed prior to awarding certification.
TITLE 37
Part 1, Chapter 14,
Sub-Chapter C, Rule §14.35
Enrollment Certificates
(a)
A training agency may
grant a qualified applicant temporary and provisional certification status in
the form of an "Enrollment Certificate" upon receipt of a completed
application, Figure 7: §14.1(7) of this title (relating to Appendix) from the
requesting employer stating that this person has fulfilled all of the following
eligibility requirements:
(1)
at least 18 years of
age;
(2)
possess a valid
driver's license designating a class appropriate (with applicable endorsements
if commercial driver's license) for the gross vehicle weight rating and
manufacturer's designed passenger capacity of motor vehicle to be operated;
(3)
an acceptable driving
record (secured from the Texas Department of Public Safety) determined in
accordance with the current "School Bus Driver's Driving Record
Evaluation," Figure 3: §14.1(3);
(4)
an acceptable criminal
history record (secured from any law enforcement agency) reviewed in accordance
with the provisions of current state statute (see Texas Education Code, §22.084);
(5)
an acceptable physical
and mental examination evaluated in accordance with all qualifications and
standards specified on the current form, Medical Examination Report for School
Bus Drivers; and pre-employment/pre-duty drug testing (evaluated in accordance
with current federal law); and
(6)
each school district or
contractor must ensure drivers have an acceptable level of knowledge and skill
regarding the safe operation of school buses. It is the employer's inherent
responsibility to ensure that the driver understands the contents of Units II,
IV, V, VIII and X of the current Course Guide for School Bus Driver Training in
(b) In addition
to the prerequisites listed in subsection (a) of this section, the following
rules shall apply to the issuance of all enrollment certificates:
(1)
recipients must
register for the first available twenty-hour basic certification course as
determined by the training agency. Except as approved by the training agency,
failure to satisfactorily complete the course as scheduled shall result in
revocation of the certificate, and a consecutive enrollment certificate shall
not be reissued;
(2)
it is highly
recommended that all enrollment certificates shall be dated to expire no later
than 180 days past the date issued. In the event a class is not scheduled within
180 days, the enrollment certificate may be dated to expire within a reasonable
period of time following the conclusion of the first available certification
course. Except as approved by the training agency, a
minimum of five years must elapse between the issuance of consecutive enrollment
certificates;
(3)
the training agency may
charge a reasonable fee for the issuance of an enrollment certificate, not to
exceed the actual cost for processing; and
(4)
an enrollment
certificate shall be the standard school bus driver safety training certificate
so designated by the words, "Enrollment Certificate" stamped or
printed diagonally across the face of the training certificate;
(5)
the training agency
shall submit, in a timely manner, the necessary verification information
electronically to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Figure 8: §14.1(8) of
this title