PARAPROFESSIONALS  •  SECRETARIES   •  FOOD SERVICE  •  CUSTODIANS  •  BUS DRIVERS  •  TECHNICIANS

Legislative

February 13, 2009 - MSEA is asking members to oppose a house measure that would put school children’s safety at risk. The Minnesota House of Representatives have introduced a bill (House File 116) to amend the requirements for type III school bus drivers. The bill that was passed in 2008 required that all school personnel who operated Type III vehicles (school vans) were required to possess all DOT certifications for school bus drivers, pass a physical test and would be eligible to be drug-tested. This legislation was put into place to ensure the safety of all children being transported by school personnel in school vans. According to an MSEA field representative, many schools are still working on implementing this legislation that became effective August 1, 2008. The revision of this bill would allow for an exemption from physical and drug testing of school personnel who are not solely employed by the school district to operate type III vehicles. House File 116 would compromise child safety by removing some of the safeguards enacted to protect children while they are being transported by school personnel. Click here for a complete look at current standards.