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Panel advances bill to expand mental‑health awareness training for school bus drivers, requests funding review
Summary
The subcommittee reported HB495 as substituted and referred it to appropriations after testimony from superintendents and school boards raised concerns about recruitment, training time and pay for bus drivers.
Delegate Guzman introduced HB495 to extend mental‑health first‑aid and awareness training to school bus drivers, arguing drivers are often the first adults students see in the morning and may be first to notice crises. She said the program can use existing, no‑cost training modalities (in‑person, virtual, self‑paced).
Tom Smith of the Virginia Superintendents Association said his members support the intent but warned that recruiting drivers is already difficult and adding training requirements "makes that more difficult" without funding or compensation. Stacy Haney of the School Board Association asked the General Assembly to consider funding to pay drivers for time spent in required training; Chad Stewart of the Virginia Education Association urged that training occur "on the clock." Online and in‑room supporters (Virginia PTA, disability advocates) testified in favor.
Given concerns about local costs and workforce impact, the committee reported the substitute and referred HB495 to Appropriations on a vote of 7–3.
What’s next: Appropriations will review fiscal impact and potential funding to offset local costs; stakeholders asked for guidance that trainings be paid and time‑on‑the‑clock.
