S-3989.3                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 6153

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

By Senators Pelz and Loveland

Read first time 01/14/94.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Prohibiting the state board of education from adopting rules governing the qualifications of drivers other than school bus drivers who transport students.

          AN ACT Relating to the authority of the state board of education to adopt rules about transporting students; and amending RCW 28A.160.210.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.160.210 and 1989 c 178 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:

          In addition to other powers and duties, the state board of education shall adopt rules ((and regulations)) governing the training and qualifications of school bus drivers.  ((Such)) The state board of education shall not adopt rules governing the qualifications of other drivers.  The rules ((and regulations)) for school bus drivers shall be designed to insure that persons will not be employed to operate school buses unless they possess such physical health and driving skills as are necessary to safely operate school buses:  PROVIDED, That such rules ((and regulations)) shall insure that school bus drivers are provided a due process hearing before any certification required by such rules ((and regulations)) is ((cancelled)) canceled:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That such rules ((and regulations)) shall not conflict with the authority of the department of licensing to license school bus drivers in accordance with chapter 46.25 RCW.  The state board of education may obtain a copy of the driving record, as maintained by the department of licensing, for consideration when evaluating a school bus driver's driving skills.

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