A bill for an act relating to approved courses of instruction for school bus drivers.(See HF 395.)
Summary
HSB107 updates Iowa law governing the training requirements for school bus drivers. Under current law, a person applying for or employed as a school bus driver must complete a Department of Education-approved course of instruction within the first six months of employment and then every 24 months thereafter. The bill adds a new option for meeting the initial training requirement: the Department of Education must accept proof of federally required entry-level driver training (ELDT) as satisfying the state-approved school bus driver course, so long as that training includes the passenger endorsement and school bus endorsement curriculum required under federal rules.
The bill also authorizes the Department of Education to adopt rules for providers of entry-level driver training to ensure compliance with the new recognition process. It does not change the recurring 24-month retraining requirement for school bus drivers, and it preserves the existing revocation process if a driver fails to provide proof of completion of the required course. In that case, the employer must report the failure, the driver’s school bus authorization is revoked, and the driver cannot be reauthorized until proof of completion is submitted.
Impact
The bill amends Iowa Code section 321.376, subsection 3, to align state school bus driver training requirements with federal entry-level driver training standards. Its practical effect is to broaden the types of training that can satisfy the initial school bus driver instruction requirement, potentially reducing duplicative training for drivers who already completed qualifying ELDT. It also gives the Department of Education rulemaking authority over ELDT providers and leaves intact the ongoing biennial recertification requirement and enforcement provisions for noncompliance.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was noncontroversial in committee, passing the House Committee on Education unanimously 23-0. The bill text and explanation indicate it is largely a technical or administrative update intended to coordinate state requirements with federal commercial driver training rules rather than to make a substantive policy change. No committee testimony is provided, but the unanimous vote suggests broad support or at least no recorded opposition at the committee stage.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is whether federal ELDT should be treated as an adequate substitute for the state-approved school bus driver course, especially if stakeholders are concerned about maintaining Iowa-specific training standards. Another possible issue is the Department of Education’s new rulemaking role over ELDT providers, which could raise questions about implementation and oversight. However, the bill materials do not show recorded opposition, and the unanimous committee vote suggests these concerns were not significant in the available proceedings.
Replaced by
A bill for an act relating to approved courses of instruction for school bus drivers, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 107.) Effective date: 01/01/2026.