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Subcommittee advances bill changing school‑bus driver age requirements amid safety concerns
Summary
Representative Sparks' bill to change the minimum age for school bus drivers prompted debate about safety and local control; the subcommittee voted to send House Bill 1790 to full Transportation (7 ayes, 1 no, 1 present not voting).
Chairman Sparks, the sponsor, said he had presented a previous version of the bill and that the current measure adjusts minimum ages for school bus drivers (he described the qualifying age as 23 in his remarks and noted an amendment to 20–23 in committee discussion).
Sparks said districts face a shortage of school bus drivers and that some local districts and boards support changes to age requirements. Members voiced concerns about safety when hauling children versus other commercial driving tasks; Representative McAlmon said he could not support lowering the age for such responsibilities. After discussion about permissive local control, the committee opened the board and the clerk announced the vote as 7 ayes, 1 no, and 1 present not voting; House Bill 1790 will go to full Transportation Committee.
