An Act To Create A New Pathway To Licensure To Drive School Buses

LD 1714 creates a new school bus driver license endorsement in Maine that meets federal safety standards without requiring a full commercial driver's license (CDL). It establishes a learner's permit pathway for applicants aged 21+, requiring accompaniment by an experienced licensed driver during training, completion of a skills course, and passing a knowledge test. This pathway directly affects new school bus drivers and school districts seeking to hire drivers in Maine, offering an alternative to the standard CDL process. The bill specifies that current CDL holders with school bus endorsements remain eligible to operate school buses under existing rules.