BUS DRIVER DIABETES REQ.; DELETE                                              H.B. 4861:

                                                                                         SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                         REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4861 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Jack O'Malley

House Committee: Transportation

Senate Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Pupil Transportation Act to eliminate requirements that a school bus driver with diabetes would have to meet to be qualified as a bus driver.

Generally, the Act prescribes the minimum qualifications that a school bus driver must meet. Among other things, a school bus driver must meet the requirements to ensure that a person is qualified to operate a school bus found in 49 CFR 391.41 to 391.49 (which are regulations pertain to physical qualifications and examinations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act), including the appendices of each section, except that the requirements of 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) do not apply if the school bus driver has been granted a waiver under the Motor Carrier Safety Act or the school bus driver is employed as a school bus driver on a certain date, diabetes is noted at the time of the examination, and certain other requirements are met. The bill would delete the exception from requirement of 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3).

(Under 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3), a person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently treated with insulin for control, unless the person meets certain requirements as prescribed by Federal law.)

For a school bus driver with diabetes to be exempt from the requirements of 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) as described above, the Act requires all of a list of requirements to be satisfied, e.g., that the driver has been evaluated and treated for diabetes by a physician and has visited the physician at least two times in the year before the physician completes a survey as required below. The bill would delete these requirements.

MCL 257.1853                                            Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  12-6-21                                        Fiscal Analyst: Cory Savino

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.