The school bus driver safety training program shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements:
  (1) the school bus driver safety training program shall be administered by the approved training agency;
  (2) the department shall have primary responsibility for program content, monitoring, and regulation; and for providing technical assistance to the training agency;
  (3) program standards for providing school bus driver safety training shall include the following:
    (A) the initial certification safety training course, Texas School Bus Driver Certification Course, shall consist of a minimum of twenty clock-hours of instruction;
    (B) the recertification safety training course, Texas School Bus Driver Recertification Course, shall consist of a minimum of eight clock-hours of instruction;
    (C) individual class sessions shall be limited in duration to a maximum of four hours of instruction on a workday and eight hours of instruction on a non-workday. Rest breaks of no more than ten minutes are permitted between each consecutive hour of instruction;
    (D) enrollment for individual classes shall be limited to a maximum of 35 trainees per certified instructor. A minimum of one certified instructor shall be in attendance during any class session;
    (E) when scheduling and registering for classes, priority shall be given to those persons holding an enrollment certificate;
    (F) reasonable accommodations may be requested for persons with certain disabilities who attend training classes and need auxiliary aids or services, such as an interpreter for the deaf or hearing impaired. Such requests should be directed to the appropriate training agency at least seven business days prior to the start of course instruction so that appropriate arrangements can be made;
    (G) each trainee shall be given the opportunity to complete a course evaluation report at the end of each session; and
    (H) any modifications to the program standards for the School Bus Driver Safety Training Program shall not be implemented by the training agency without prior approval of the department.

Source Note: The provisions of this §14.32 adopted to be effective March 18, 2009, 34 TexReg 1876; amended to be effective December 27, 2010, 35 TexReg 11708