1. a. As used in this section, “employer” means a board of education or a contractor that provides pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education.

b. An employer shall ensure that all school bus drivers and school bus aides are properly trained for the functions of their positions.

c. An employer shall administer a safety education program for all permanent and substitute school bus drivers and school bus aides that it employs. At a minimum, the training shall include:

(1) student management and discipline;

(2) school bus accident and emergency procedures;

(3) conducting school bus emergency exit drills;

(4) loading and unloading procedures;

(5) school bus stop loading zone safety;

(6) inspecting the school vehicle for students left on board at the end of a route; and

(7) the use of a student’s education records, including the employee’s responsibility to ensure the privacy of the student and the student’s records, if applicable.

d. In addition to the training requirements in subsection c. of this section, an employer shall administer to school bus drivers a safety education program that includes defensive driving techniques and railroad crossing procedures.

e. The employer shall administer the safety education program set forth in subsections c. and d. of this section twice per calendar year.

L.2018, c.160, s.1.