SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – January 1st means new laws are now on the books in Iowa and some neighboring states, one new law focuses on school bus safety.

Until now, Iowa school districts had the option to require applicants for school bus driver jobs to complete an approved course. New legislation goes into more detail about what could be required by districts for their school bus drivers.

House File 395 spells out what school districts may require of their new and current drivers. According to the law, an approved course of instruction for school bus drivers includes one or more of the following:

• A course of instruction for school bus drivers approved by the Department of Education.
• Entry-level driver training completed in compliance with Federal regulations.
• Other training as described in a resolution adopted by the school district.

If a school district does elect to require completion of an approved course for school bus drivers, the driver has to complete the course before – or within – their first six months on the job. And then, they’ll need to complete the course again once every 24 months.