The school bus drivers, whether students or adults, shall be selected and employed by the respective boards of trustees of the school districts, subject to the approval of the respective county boards of education. No person under sixteen years of age shall be eligible for consideration as a bus driver. Before being employed, all prospective drivers shall be examined by the State Board of Education to determine their competency. The State Board of Education shall provide a rigid school bus driver training course and issue special "school bus driver's certificates" to successful candidates. No person shall be authorized to drive a school bus in this State transporting children, whether the bus be owned by the State, by a local school agency, or by a private contractor, who has not been so certified by the State Board of Education. All school bus driver certificates shall be renewed every three years. Drivers who have certificates issued prior to September 1962, must enroll and satisfactorily complete bus driver training courses prior to September 1965, and each three years thereafter. Local school superintendents shall supervise the conduct of pupils being transported and of school bus drivers. When any person is relieved of his duties as a bus driver, for just cause, the local school superintendent shall require the driver to turn in his school bus driver certificate which shall be forwarded to the State Board of Education. A certificate may be reissued to such a driver at a later date upon approval of the local superintendent and the State Board of Education. The provisions of this section shall not apply to private schools.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-839; 1952 Code Section 21-839, 1951 (47) 546; 1953 (48) 350; 1964 (53) 2097; 1965 (54) 649.