This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to enhance the authority for third-party road tests for school bus drivers. It introduces new provisions that allow service cooperatives to be designated as third-party testing programs, enabling them to administer road tests to employees of member school districts that own or operate school buses. The bill also clarifies the definition of "road test" to include necessary endorsement tests for operating a school bus. Additionally, it allows school districts and bus companies to enter into agreements to administer these road tests, which must be approved by the commissioner.
Furthermore, the bill expands the list of educational programs and services that service cooperatives can implement by adding third-party testing of school bus drivers as a new service. This addition aims to streamline the process of certifying school bus drivers while ensuring that the testing is conducted under regulated conditions. The bill makes technical changes to existing statutes to support these updates and improve the overall framework for school bus driver testing in Minnesota.
Statutes affected: Introduction: 123A.21, 171.3213