                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS EMPLOYED TO DRIVE SCHOOL BUSES (§ 22.1-178)

A. No school board shall hire, employ, or enter into any agreement with any
person for the purposes of operating a school bus transporting pupils unless the
person proposed to so operate such school bus shall:

   1. Have a physical examination of a scope prescribed by the Board with the
   advice of the Medical Society of Virginia and furnish a form prescribed by the
   Board showing the results of such examination.

   2. Furnish a statement or copy of records from the Department of Motor
   Vehicles showing that the records of such Department do not disclose that the
   person, within the preceding five years, has been convicted upon a charge of
   driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, convicted of a felony or
   assigned to any alcohol safety action program or driver alcohol rehabilitation
   program pursuant to &#xA7; 18.2-271.1 or, within the preceding 12 months, has
   been convicted of two or more moving traffic violations or required to attend
   a driver improvement clinic by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor
   Vehicles pursuant to &#xA7; 46.2-498.

   3. Furnish a statement signed by two reputable persons who reside in the
   school division or in the applicant&#8217;s community that the person is of
   good moral character.

   4. Exhibit a license showing the person has successfully undertaken the
   examination prescribed by &#xA7; 46.2-339.

   5. Have reached the age of 18 by the first day of the school year.

B. Any school board may require proof of current certification or training in
emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of an automated
external defibrillator as a condition to employment to operate a school bus
transporting pupils.

C. School boards may require persons accepting employment as a driver of a
school bus transporting pupils to agree, as a condition of employment, to submit
to alcohol and controlled substance testing. Any such tests shall be conducted
in compliance with Board regulations.

D. The documents required pursuant to subdivisions A 1 and 2 shall be furnished
annually prior to the anniversary date of the employment agreement as a
condition to continuing employment to operate a school bus.

E. The documents required pursuant to this section shall be filed with, and made
a part of, the records of the school board employing such person as a school bus
operator.

F. The Department shall furnish to the several division superintendents the
necessary forms to be used by applicants in furnishing the information required
by this section. Insofar as practicable, such forms shall be designed to limit
paperwork, avoid the possibility of mistake, and furnish all parties involved
with a complete and accurate record of the information required.

G. The physical examination required by subsection A may be performed and the
report of the results signed by a licensed advanced practice registered nurse or
physician assistant.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 22-276.1; 1962, c. 544; 1966, c. 604; 1970, c. 696; 1972,
c. 359; 1973, c. 170; 1976, cc. 116, 123; 1977, c. 393; 1978, c. 322; 1979, c.
126; 1980, c. 559; 1992, c. 130; 1993, c. 285; 1994, c. 104; 1998, c. 287; 2001,
c. 445; 2006, c. 396; 2013, cc. 498, 530; 2022, c. 355; 2023, c. 183.