1. (a) No person shall drive a school bus or be issued a certificate to drive a school bus or multipurpose passenger vehicle unless the person:

   1. (1) Is 18 years of age or older. Any interstate driver shall be 21 years of age or older;
   2. (2) Holds a valid driver license for a minimum of 2 years;
   3. (3) Has held a valid driver license for a minimum of 2 years;
   4. (4) Has submitted their name to the division on a roster, form DSMV 126, “School Bus Driver Roster,” (rev. 06/24), signed by the person responsible at the school district or school bus company for which the person shall be driving a school bus;
   5. (5) Can read and speak sufficiently to converse with the public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on required reports and records;
   6. (6) Has been physically examined and is qualified to drive a school bus in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 391.41 through 49 CFR 391.47 if a commercial driver license holder, or Saf-C 1304.02 if a non-commercial driver license holder;
   7. (7) Meets the requirements of 49 CFR 382, pertaining to controlled substances and alcohol use and testing, if the person is a holder of a commercial driver license;
   8. (8) Has successfully completed a written examination required by the department; and
   9. (9) Meets the requirements of RSA 189:13-a and RSA 189:13-b.
2. (b) For the purposes of (a)(8) above, the written examination shall consist of rules of the road, motor vehicle laws, and rules for driving a school bus.
3. (c) Upon successful completion of the requirements set forth in (a) above, a school bus driver's certificate shall be issued, expiring on the same date as the person’s driver license.
4. (d) To maintain a school bus driver's certificate, the driver’s name shall be submitted to the division on a roster, form DSMV 126, pursuant to (a)(4) above. The roster shall be submitted no later than June 30th for the ensuing school year to allow time for the division to complete a motor vehicle and criminal record check. To maintain a school bus driver's certificate, the school district or school bus company shall provide proof that the driver has completed 8 hours of annual instruction, pursuant to Saf-C 1305.03(b).
5. (e) Upon renewal of a driver license, the person shall take a written examination on the rules of the road, motor vehicle laws, and rules for driving a school bus in order to renew a school bus driver's certificate.

Source. #4873, eff 07-24-90; ss by #6297, eff 7-23-96; ss by #8122, INTERIM, eff 7-17-04, EXPIRES: 1-13-05; ss by #8248, eff 1-4-05; ss by #10439, eff 10-11-13 (see Revision Note #1 at chapter heading for Saf-C 1300); ss by #14005, eff 6-22-24, EXPIRES: 6-22-34 (see Revision Note #2 at chapter heading for Saf-C 1300); ss by EMERGENCY RULE, #14357, (para (a)), eff 8-26-25, EXPIRES: 2-22-26