N.J. Admin. Code § 13:21-23.15

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 13:21-23.15 - Requirements for a school bus endorsement

(a) An applicant for a school bus endorsement must satisfy the following four requirements:

1. Qualify for the passenger vehicle endorsement. Pass the knowledge and skills tests for obtaining a passenger vehicle endorsement;

2. Knowledge test. Must have knowledge covering at least the following three topics:

i. Loading and unloading children, including the safe operation of stop signal devices, external mirror systems, flashing lights and other warning and passenger safety devices required for school buses by State or Federal law or regulation;

ii. Emergency exits and procedures for safely evacuating passengers in an emergency; and

iii. State and Federal laws and regulations related to safely traversing highway rail grade crossings; and

3. Skills test. Must take a driving skills test in a school bus of the same vehicle group as the school bus applicant will drive.

4. An applicant seeking to obtain a school bus endorsement for the first time, on or after February 7, 2022, must complete driver training related to that endorsement from a provider listed on the Training Provider Registry, and in accordance with the requirements set forth at 49 CFR 380, including Subparts F and G thereof, 49 CFR 383 and 384, prior to taking the knowledge and skills tests required in this section.

(b) Every holder of a school bus endorsement who is 70 years of age or older must comply with the following requirements.

1. Every holder of a school bus endorsement who is aged 70 to 74 must obtain and submit to his or her employer annually, a certified Medical Doctor or Osteopathic Physician Evaluation, in the format prescribed by the Chief Administrator and completed by a licensed medical doctor or osteopathic physician, which evidences a medical examination and the continuing physical fitness of the school bus endorsement holder pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:3-10.1.

i. A school bus endorsement holder who is at least age 70, but not yet 75 years of age, who is employed as a school bus driver as of February 3, 2020, shall comply with (b)1 above by March 4, 2020, and annually thereafter by the initial date of compliance.

(1) A school bus endorsement holder under this subparagraph that has already complied with (b)1 above prior to February 3, 2020, shall comply annually thereafter from the initial date of compliance.

ii. A school bus endorsement holder who is employed as a school bus driver as of February 3, 2020, who turns age 70 after February 3, 2020, shall comply with (b)1 above within 30 days of his or her birthday, and annually thereafter from the initial date of compliance, through his or her 74th birthday.

iii. A school bus endorsement holder who is at least age 70, but not yet 75 years of age, who is not employed as a school bus driver as of February 3, 2020, shall comply with (b)1 above within 30 days of starting his or her employment as a school bus driver, and annually thereafter from the initial date of compliance.

2. Every holder of a school bus endorsement who is age 75 or older must obtain and submit to his or her employer every six months, a certified Medical Doctor or Osteopathic Physician Evaluation, in the format prescribed by the Chief Administrator and completed by a licensed medical doctor or osteopathic physician, which evidences a medical examination and the continuing physical fitness of the school bus endorsement holder pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:3-10.1.

i. A school bus endorsement holder who is age 75 or older, who is employed as a school bus driver as of February 3, 2020, shall comply with (b)2 above by March 4, 2020, and every six months thereafter from the initial date of compliance.

(1) A school bus endorsement holder under this subparagraph that has already complied with (b)2 above prior to February 3, 2020, shall comply every six months thereafter from the initial date of compliance.

ii. A school bus endorsement holder who is employed as a school bus driver as of February 3, 2020, who turns age 75 after February 3, 2020, shall comply with (b)2 above within 30 days of his or her birthday, and every six months thereafter from the initial date of compliance.

iii. A school bus endorsement holder who is age 75 or older, who is not employed as a school bus driver as of February 3, 2020, shall comply with (b)2 above within 30 days of starting his or her employment as a school bus driver, and every six months thereafter from the initial date of compliance.

3. The requirements to obtain and submit a certified Medical Doctor or Osteopathic Physician Evaluation identified in (b)1 and 2 above are in addition to, and may not be substituted with, the Medical Examiner's Certificate required by 49 CFR 391.43 and N.J.A.C. 13:21-23.28(l).

4. If a holder of a school bus endorsement age 70 or older does not comply with (b)1 and 2 above, the Commission shall suspend the holder's school bus endorsement.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:21-23.15

Amended by 52 N.J.R. 149(a), effective 2/3/2020

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 2070(a), effective 12/6/2021