MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. (Aug. 25, 2008) — Pupil transporters in vehicles other than school buses will face many of the same restrictions as yellow school bus drivers, under a new Minnesota law.

As of Aug. 1, drivers of Type III vehicles will not be able to use their cell phones for personal use while driving. The law also prohibits parental volunteers from driving. As of Sept. 1, drivers will face the similar training, physical examination and background check requirements, the state Department of Public Safety wrote in a memorandum last week.

Unlike the rules for school bus drivers,  the law allows but does not require districts to test for drug and alcohol before employment, after incidents or if employers are suspicious. The law also introduces a zero-tolerance alcohol policy. Previously, Type III drivers were subject to the same alcohol allowances as regular drivers.

Pupil transporters will now have notify their employer within 10 days of any alcohol-related offenses, moving violations or disqualifying offenses, such as crimes against children, felonies and sex crimes. Contractors and school districts are required to maintain proof of all of these verifications and background checks for inspection.

Earlier this year, the state passed a slew of changes, including opening its first office exclusively responsible for pupil transportation safety, following a critical audit of the state’s pupil transportation operations. The measure signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty assigned a minimum of 15 additional school bus inspectors and three state level troopers specifically to the school transportation detail. While three of the new four inspectors and one of the troopers have already started work, the new office will have to wait for next year until the remaining troopers have graduated from the trooper academy.