LRB-3524/1
PJH:wlj:rs
2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE
August 8, 2001 - Introduced by Senators Breske, Burke, Roessler and Darling,
cosponsored by Representatives
Olsen, Ryba, Ladwig, Musser, Ainsworth,
Turner, Krawczyk, Jeskewitz, Lassa, Vrakas, Nass, Urban and Pettis.
Referred to Committee on Insurance, Tourism, and Transportation.
SB227,1,4
1An Act to repeal 343.12 (4) (a) 2. and 343.20 (1) (d);
to amend 343.12 (2) (a),
2343.12 (3) and 343.26; and
to create 343.12 (2m) and 343.255 of the statutes;
3relating to: qualifications for endorsements authorizing the operation of a
4school bus.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, no person may operate a school bus unless the person
possesses an endorsement issued by the department of transportation (DOT) to
operate school buses. DOT is required to issue a school bus endorsement to any
applicant for the endorsement who is at least 18 years of age but not more than 70
years of age and who meets the stated requirements, including passing a physical
examination. A school bus endorsement is valid for the eight-year duration of the
person's operator's license. DOT may, but is not required to, issue a school bus
endorsement to any person who is more than 70 years of age and who annually takes
and passes a physical examination and satisfies the requirements required of
younger school bus operators.
This bill requires each school bus operator under 70 years of age to submit to
DOT, at least once every four years, proof that the person has passed a knowledge
test and a driving skills test of his or her ability to safely operate a school bus. The
bill requires school bus operators who are 70 or more years of age to submit proof of
passing a knowledge test, driving skills test, and physical exam every two years. The
bill requires DOT to cancel the school bus endorsement of any person who fails to
submit proof that he or she has passed the required tests.
Current law requires DOT to cancel the entire operator's license of a person who
is more than 70 years of age if the license is endorsed for the operation of school buses,
and the person fails to submit annual proof that he or she has passed a physical
examination. This bill requires DOT to cancel only the endorsement, not the entire
operator's license.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB227, s. 1
1Section
1. 343.12 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB227,2,32
343.12
(2) (a) Subject to sub. (3), is at least 18 years
of age and not
70 or more
3than 70 years of age.
SB227, s. 2
4Section
2. 343.12 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB227,2,145
343.12
(2m) Notwithstanding sub. (2) (h) and s. 343.16 (3) (b), each person
6under 70 years of age who holds an endorsement to operate a school bus shall provide
7proof to the department that, within the preceding 4 years, the person has passed the
8examinations described under sub. (2) (h) and s. 343.16 (3) (b). Each person 70 years
9of age or older who holds an endorsement to operate a school bus shall provide proof
10to the department that, within the preceding 2 years, the person has passed the
11examinations described under sub. (2) (h) and s. 343.16 (3) (b). If a person fails to
12provide proof required under this subsection in the form and manner required by the
13department, the department shall cancel the person's school bus endorsement as
14required under s. 343.255.
SB227, s. 3
15Section
3. 343.12 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB227,3,316
343.12
(3) The department may issue a school bus endorsement to a person who
17is
70 or more
than 70 years of age if the person meets the requirements specified in
18sub. (2) (c) to (f) and (h) before issuance of the endorsement and annually takes and
1passes a physical examination prior to issuance or renewal of the endorsement to
2determine that the person meets the physical standards established under sub. (2)
3(g).
SB227, s. 4
4Section
4. 343.12 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
SB227, s. 5
5Section
5. 343.20 (1) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
SB227, s. 6
6Section
6. 343.255 of the statutes is created to read:
SB227,3,16
7343.255 Cancellation of school bus endorsements. The department shall
8cancel a licensee's school bus endorsement issued under s. 343.12 (2), regardless of
9the license expiration date, whenever the licensee fails to provide proof to the
10department that he or she has passed the examinations as required under s. 343.12
11(2m). The department shall cancel a licensee's school bus endorsement issued under
12s. 343.12 (3), regardless of the license expiration date, whenever the licensee fails to
13provide proof to the department of an annual physical examination determining that
14the person meets the physical standards established under s. 343.12 (2) (g). The
15licensee may elect to surrender the endorsement or his or her license under s. 343.265
16(1m).
SB227, s. 7
17Section
7. 343.26 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB227,3,24
18343.26 License or endorsement after cancellation. Any person whose
19license
or endorsement has been canceled, whether the license
or endorsement has
20been canceled by the secretary or stands canceled as a matter of law, may apply for
21a new license
or endorsement at any time. Upon receipt of the application and the
22required fee, the department shall issue or refuse issuance of the license
or
23endorsement as upon an original application. The department may, but need not,
24require the applicant to submit to an examination as provided in s. 343.16.
