Section 71.5. Courses of instruction

(a) Administration. Courses of instruction established by the Department shall be administered by the local public school district or intermediate unit and shall be made available to public and private, including parochial, school bus drivers within the boundaries of the public school district or intermediate unit.

(b) Instructors. Qualifications of instructors includes the following:

(1) Course instructors shall possess a certificate of instruction issued by the Department.

(2) Instructors may be employes of the public school district or intermediate unit or a school bus contractor.

(c) Learning drivers. Courses of instruction for learning drivers shall include the following:

(1) An applicant to whom an S endorsement learner’s permit is issued shall undergo a 10-hour course of instruction consisting of 7 hours of classroom instruction and 3 hours of vehicle familiarity and driving instruction before driving a school bus carrying school children. On completion of the 10-hour course, the person shall be eligible to take a driver’s examination administered by the Department. On successfully passing the driver’s examination, the applicant will receive an S endorsement.

(2) Within 120 days of receiving an S endorsement, a school bus driver shall undergo a supplemental 10-hour course of instruction consisting of 7 hours of classroom instruction and 3 hours of vehicle familiarity and driving instruction. The course instructor shall notify the Department when a driver has completed the 10-hour course. If the notification is not received by the Department within 150 days of the date of the issuance of the S endorsement, the Department will suspend the S endorsement until notification is received.

(d) Review course. In addition to the training provided for in subsection (c), a holder of an S endorsement shall undergo a 10-hour course of instruction, consisting of 7 hours of classroom instruction and 3 hours of vehicle familiarity and driving, every 4 years.

(e) Driver’s list. The public school district or intermediate unit conducting the courses of instruction shall furnish to the Department a list of the drivers who successfully complete the course. The list shall contain the intermediate unit or private or parochial school employing the driver, the type of course and the date the course was completed.

(f) Forms. Necessary forms will be provided by the Department.

The provisions of this § 71.5 adopted September 23, 1977, effective September 24, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 2702; amended through August 10, 1979, effective August 11, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 2638; readopted May 11, 1990, effective immediately and apply retroactively to May 11, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 2524; amended January 13, 1995, effective January 14, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 160. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (150696) to (150697).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 71.5 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 1504(c), 1509 and 6103.