HB2159 Summary

• Requires school bus drivers to possess a commercial driver license issued by Arizona Department of Transportation, with limited exception for drivers in school districts adjacent to other states who may hold an out-of-state commercial driver license.

• Mandates school bus driver applicants maintain a valid fingerprint clearance card issued under Arizona law and submit identity-verified fingerprints for processing.

• Requires Department of Public Safety to suspend a school bus driver certificate if the fingerprint clearance card becomes invalid, suspended, canceled, or revoked.

• Establishes that certification standards must include moral character requirements, safety knowledge, physical fitness assessments, first aid knowledge, alcohol and drug testing, and optional hearing tests.

• Permits Department of Public Safety to cancel certificates if drivers fail to maintain minimum standards and allows drivers to request a hearing to challenge certificate denials or cancellations.