To amend the rule to allow class E driver’s license holders to operate small school buses and multifunction school activity buses that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) under 26,001 pounds and a seating capacity ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-3.0141Employment of School Bus Operators

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To amend the rule to allow class E driver’s license holders to operate small school buses and multifunction school activity buses that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) under 26,001 pounds and a seating capacity of 15 persons or fewer, including the driver, and to include requirements for operators of vehicles other than school buses that transport students. The additional requirements for operators of other vehicles that transport students are necessary pursuant to the passing of Chapter 2023-16, Laws of Florida, during the 2023 Legislative session.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: The purpose of this amendment is to revise the rule to include operators of vehicles other than school buses that transport students, establish employment requirements for such operators and remove the current restriction that prevents class E driver’s license holders from operating small buses that have a gross vehicle weight rating less than 26,001 pounds and a seating capacity of 15 persons or fewer, including the driver.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 316.615(3), 1001.02(1), 1006.22, 1012.45, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 316.615, 1006.22, 1012.32(2)(a), 1012.45, F.S.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: January 9, 2025, 1:00 p.m.

PLACE: Online via Microsoft Teams https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NWU1NGQ3NzQtMDBkZC00ZGFlLTk5OWEtMTRjYmRiMGM2YTQ0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2263bf107b-cb6f-4173-8c1c-1406bb5cb794%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22a8c889e4-e1d7-4c53-af13-f375e082fc20%22%7d

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Mark Eggers, Assistant Deputy Commissioner. [e-mail], [phone]. To comment on this rule development workshop, please go to https://web02.fldoe.org/rules or contact: Chris Emerson, Director, Office of Executive Management, email [e-mail].

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS: Available at https://web02.fldoe.org/rules