A new law went into effect in Alabama that will prohibit hiring new school bus drivers in the state unless applicants meet a lengthy list of physical requirements.
Gov. Robert J. Bentley last month signed SB 191, the Lt. Dexter Holcomb Act. Under the new law, a person is physically disqualified from driving a school bus for no less than a dozen ailments, including current diagnoses of alcoholism and psychiatric disorders as well as use of controlled substances. But the law also includes such physical ailments ranging from vision problems to missing limbs to epilepsy, hearing loss to rheumatism to heart disease.
State Director of Transportation Joe Lightsey at the Alabama Department of Education said his department was, at this report, writing a state board rule to help get it implemented.
“My biggest concern is probably the effect it could have on our recruitment of new drivers. Even so, it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “We know there will be some current and new drivers who will be disqualified. But, in the final analysis, those drivers should not be driving, anyway.”
New driver applicants must pass, at his or her own expense, a physical examination given by a certified medical physician. Additionally, each new driver must pass a physical exam within the first three months of hire and must repeat the physical exam every two years. Current drivers may be grandfathered in for any medical condition listed if they file a written letter from their physician that states the driver is capable of safely operating a school bus. Lightsey added that the law is patterned after the U.S. Department of Transportation requirements.
The bill, introduced in February by Sen. Del Marsh, was named after the 46-year-old Oxford, Ala., police officer who was struck and killed in 2007 by a school bus while directing afternoon traffic near a local school. The bus driver reportedly had experienced medical problems just moments before striking Holcomb.
The bill passed the Senate Feb. 23 and the House May 8. Alabama Act 2012-372 was signed by Gov. Bentley six days later.
