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Committee advances bill to simplify hearing checks for school bus drivers who use hearing aids
Summary
House Bill 240 would replace the electro-acoustic analysis requirement with a standard hearing test conducted while the driver wears a hearing aid; the committee reported the bill as committed with support from PennDOT and the PA School Bus Association.
Representative Benninghoff, sponsor of House Bill 240, told the House Transportation Committee the measure aims to remove a redundant test for school bus drivers who use hearing aids and make testing quicker and more efficient.
Committee staff summarized the bill: it "eliminates the hearing aid electro acoustic analysis test for school bus drivers that require a hearing aid. In lieu of this, the bill requires school bus drivers with a hearing aid pass a hearing test with a hearing aid to ensure proper function." The staff summary also noted support from PennDOT and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association and that no amendments were filed.
Why it matters: The sponsor said the change reduces redundancy and speeds processing for drivers who already pass a hearing test while wearing an aid. "If somebody passes a test wearing a hearing aid, you would think that the hearing aid was working and therefore, does not need to be having an acoustic person testing it subsequently. It's just making government a little bit more efficient and people's lives better by letting them get these tests done quicker," Representative Benninghoff said.
Action taken: After discussion, the committee recorded no negative votes in the transcript and reported House Bill 240 as committed.
Context and next steps: The transcript recorded committee support from PennDOT and the PA School Bus Association but did not provide implementation dates, numbers of affected drivers, or budget impacts.
