1. (a) An individual may not drive a school bus for the transportation of students or be employed as a school bus monitor unless the individual satisfies the following requirements:

   1. (1) Is of good moral character.
   2. (2) Does not use intoxicating liquor during school hours.
   3. (3) Does not use intoxicating liquor to excess at any time.
   4. (4) Is not addicted to any narcotic drug.

   5. (5) Is at least:

      1. (A) twenty-one (21) years of age for driving a school bus; or
      2. (B) eighteen (18) years of age for employment as a school bus monitor.
   6. (6) In the case of a school bus driver, holds a valid public passenger chauffeur's license or commercial driver's license issued by the state or any other state.

   7. (7) Possesses the following required physical characteristics:

      1. (A) Sufficient physical ability to be a school bus driver, as determined by the committee.
      2. (B) The full normal use of both hands, both arms, both feet, both legs, both eyes, and both ears.

      3. (C) Freedom from any communicable disease that:

         1. (i) may be transmitted through airborne or droplet means; or
         2. (ii) requires isolation of the infected person under 410 IAC 1-2.3.
      4. (D) Freedom from any mental, nervous, organic, or functional disease that might impair the person's ability to properly operate a school bus.
      5. (E) This clause does not apply to a school bus monitor. Visual acuity, with or without glasses, equal to the vision requirements under 49 CFR 391.41 and a field of vision with one hundred fifty (150) degree minimum and with depth perception of at least eighty percent (80%) or forty-eight (48) seconds of arc or less angle of stereopsis.
2. (b) This subsection applies to a school bus monitor. Notwithstanding subsection (a)(5)(B), a school corporation or school bus driver may not employ an individual who is less than twenty-one

3. (21) years of age as a school bus monitor unless the school corporation or school bus driver does not receive a sufficient number of qualified applicants for employment as a school bus monitor who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age. A school corporation or school bus driver shall maintain a record of applicants, their ages, and their qualifications to show compliance with this subsection.

   [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-3-1.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.219-2015, SEC.3; P.L.127-2016, SEC.19; P.L.167-2018, SEC.3; P.L.168-2022, SEC.8.