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Committee rejects proposal to lower minimum age for school bus drivers to 23
Summary
Senate Bill 1042 to allow school districts to hire school bus drivers aged 23 with two years’ CDL experience failed in committee after safety officials and several senators said the existing age floor of 25 helps protect student safety.
Senate Bill 1042, which would have allowed local hiring authorities to employ school bus drivers aged 23 (down from the statutory minimum of 25), failed in the Transportation and Safety Committee on a roll call that left the measure short of the majority needed to advance.
Sponsor Senator Bolton Bolling (Senator Bolling) said the change was intended to expand the pool of eligible drivers amid persistent school bus shortages and noted the bill was permissive: local school boards and contractors could still require more experience if they preferred. He pointed to statistics the sponsor said showed lower accident percentages among younger cohorts who would qualify under the change.
The Department of Safety strongly opposed reducing the age limit. Elizabeth Stroker, the department’s legislative director, told the committee that prior reforms had raised the age to 25 after fatal school-bus crashes and that the department and local advocates had agreed the higher minimum helps ensure greater maturity and safety. Stroker added that very few drivers in the 23–24 age range currently hold the S endorsement for school buses.
Several senators cited the responsibilities of driving a bus full of students and the history of back-to-back fatal crashes that led to prior legislation. Senator Hatcher and others said rural providers and independent operators who hire drivers bear liability and will be cautious, but they supported keeping the age at 25. Senator Pote said the bill was permissive and left hiring decisions to local districts; Senator Pote and a few others supported the change for local flexibility.
On the roll call the committee recorded four ayes and five nos; the clerk announced the bill “fails.” The sponsor said he appreciated the committee’s consideration and emphasized local control and the needs of rural districts; opponents cited safety and past crashes as reasons to retain the existing age restriction.
