PRINTER'S NO. 3491
No. 2596 Session of 1996
INTRODUCED BY VANCE, FLEAGLE, STERN, BROWN, BUNT, WALKO, WAUGH,
BELARDI, FARGO, NICKOL, SATHER, SHEEHAN, STISH, MICOZZIE,
E. Z. TAYLOR, MILLER, SHANER, MERRY, RUBLEY, TRELLO, PETTIT,
McGILL, YOUNGBLOOD, B. SMITH, MUNDY, EGOLF, LEDERER AND
HERSHEY, MAY 7, 1996
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MAY 7, 1996
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for examination of applicant for
3 driver's license; providing for physical examinations; and
4 further providing for qualifications for school bus driver
5 endorsement.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 1508(a) of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
9 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
10 § 1508. Examination of applicant for driver's license.
11 (a) General rule.--Every applicant for a driver's license
12 shall be examined for the type or class of vehicles that the
13 applicant desires to drive. The examination shall include a
14 physical examination, a screening test of the applicant's
15 eyesight and a test of the applicant's ability to read and
16 understand official traffic-control devices, knowledge of safe
17 driving practices and the traffic laws of this Commonwealth, and
18 shall include an actual demonstration of ability to exercise
1 ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor
2 vehicle of the type or class of vehicles for which the applicant
3 desires a license to drive. If the department finds it necessary
4 to further determine an applicant's fitness to operate a motor
5 vehicle safely upon the highways the department may require one
6 or more of the following types of examinations:
7 (1) A vision examination by an optometrist or
8 ophthalmologist.
9 (2) A physical examination pursuant to section 1508.1
10 (relating to physical examinations).
11 (3) A mental examination.
12 * * *
13 Section 2. Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:
14 § 1508.1. Physical examinations.
15 The department shall promulgate regulations to authorize
16 specific classes of licensed practitioners of the healing arts,
17 to include, but not be limited to, physician assistants and
18 certified registered nurse practitioners, to conduct
19 examinations required for the issuance of a driver's license and
20 a school bus driver endorsement.
21 Section 3. Section 1509 of Title 75 is amended to read:
22 § 1509. Qualifications for school bus driver endorsement.
23 (a) School bus driver requirements.--No person shall be
24 issued an endorsement to operate a school bus unless the person:
25 (1) has successfully completed a course of instruction
26 as provided in subsection (c);
27 (2) has satisfactorily passed an annual physical
28 examination to be given [by the physician for the school
29 district by which the person is employed,] in accordance with
30 rules and regulations promulgated and adopted by the
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1 department;
2 (3) is 18 years of age or older; and
3 (4) is qualified to operate school buses in accordance
4 with this title and the rules and regulations promulgated and
5 adopted by the department.
6 (b) Proof of annual physical and vision examination.--Every
7 school bus driver shall carry a certificate issued by an
8 examining physician or practitioner recognized by the department
9 pursuant to section 1508.1 (relating to physical examinations),
10 indicating that the person has passed the prescribed physical
11 examination, including an examination of the eyes, within the
12 preceding 12 months. The vision examination may be made by an
13 optometrist or ophthalmologist.
14 (c) School bus driver training program.--The department
15 shall establish standards for a basic course and a refresher
16 course for school bus drivers. The courses shall be conducted by
17 school districts or groups of school districts or any State or
18 Federal transportation association of school bus operators
19 designated by the school district on a continuing basis, with
20 the costs and responsibility for completion of the training to
21 be borne by the school district or private or parochial school
22 for which the drivers operate.
23 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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