2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 92
BY SENATOR ERDEY AND REPRESENTATIVES JEFFERSON, REYNOLDS AND
SHADOIN
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To direct the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state Department
of Education to establish policies and procedures to evaluate school bus driver
training curricula utilized by private providers and to certify qualified private
providers to deliver required training to Louisiana school bus drivers, provided their
curriculum includes the training and topics prescribed by the department.
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:491 requires school bus drivers employed by public elementary
and secondary schools and school systems to be certified as having participated in a school
bus driver instructional program or in-service training provided by the state Department of
Education; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:497.4 requires the state Department of Education, with the
approval of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, to "develop and
implement a program for the training and certification of school bus operators"; and
WHEREAS, in response to these statutory requirements, the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education adopted rules and regulations, and the state
Department of Education developed policy, to provide for the training of school bus drivers;
and
WHEREAS, all school bus drivers in Louisiana must receive preservice certification
by successfully completing the Louisiana School Bus Operator Training Course as
prescribed by the state Department of Education and conducted by a department certified
trainer; and
WHEREAS, currently, all preservice school bus driver training must be conducted
by instructors certified by the state Department of Education and who are required to use the
school bus driver training curriculum prescribed by the department; and
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WHEREAS, bus driver training curricula developed by private providers, while not
identical to the curriculum developed by the state Department of Education, have been used
successfully in more than 2,700 school districts across the country to provide training to
school bus drivers; and
WHEREAS, certain private providers of school bus training and curricula have been
recognized by traffic safety organizations such as the National Association for Pupil
Transportation; and
WHEREAS, a number of major insurance providers recognize and recommend the
school bus driver training programs offered by certain private providers to schools and
school districts because of the positive impacts such training programs have on reducing
preventable accidents and claims, thereby increasing school bus safety and reducing
insurance premiums; and
WHEREAS, regardless of the curriculum used, the primary purpose of school bus
driver training is to educate drivers to operate a school bus in a safe and efficient manner,
thereby ensuring the safety of the state's school children; and
WHEREAS, schools and school districts should have the option to choose among all
qualified providers of school bus driver training and curricula that meet or exceed the state
requirements.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
direct the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state Department of
Education to establish policies and procedures to evaluate school bus driver training
curricula utilized by private providers and to certify qualified private providers to deliver
required training to Louisiana school bus drivers, provided their curriculum includes the
training and topics prescribed by the department.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state Department of Education shall submit
a written report to the Senate and House committees on education regarding the policies and
procedures developed by the state board and the state department to evaluate the school bus
driver training curricula utilized by private providers and to certify qualified private
providers to provide required training to Louisiana school bus drivers, not later than
October 1, 2015, which shall include a copy of the policies and procedures developed
pursuant to this Resolution.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of the policies and procedures developed
to evaluate the school bus driver training curricula utilized by private providers and to certify
qualified private providers to deliver required training to Louisiana school bus drivers shall
be posted on the state Department of Education's website.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state
superintendent of education.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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