Sec. 28.15.046. - Licensing of school bus drivers.
(a) In addition to the requirements of AS 28.15.041 (a), a person may not drive a school bus transporting school children to or from a public school to enable them to participate in class or a school activity, or a bus transporting school children to or from a public school for classroom studies until the person has applied for and has been issued a license for that purpose under this section. This subsection does not apply to a person or motor vehicle exempted under regulations adopted by the commissioner. In this subsection "classroom studies" means curriculum studies that take place in a public school building.
(b) The department may not issue a license under this section unless the applicant
(1) is at least 21 years of age;
(2) has had a license to operate a motor vehicle at least three years before the date of application;
(3) has successfully completed all required driving, written, and physical examinations;
(4) has submitted the applicant's fingerprints, the fees required by the Department of Public Safety under AS 12.62.160 for criminal justice information and a national criminal history record check, and other information sufficient to complete a background check consisting of a fingerprint check of national criminal records and state criminal records of the state or states in which the applicant has resided for the past two years; the department shall submit the fingerprints and fees to the Department of Public Safety for a report of criminal justice information under AS 12.62 and a national criminal history record check under AS 12.62.400 ;
(5) has completed a state approved school bus driver training course established under AS 14.07.020 (a)(14) or has for the previous two years been licensed by the state to operate a school bus.
(c) The department may not issue a license under this section to an applicant who has been convicted of any of the following offenses within 20 years of the time of application:
(1) sexual abuse of a minor in any degree under AS 11.41.434 - 11.41.440;
(2) sexual assault in any degree under AS 11.41.410 - 11.41.425;
(3) incest under AS 11.41.450 ;
(4) unlawful exploitation of a minor under AS 11.41.455 ;
(5) contributing to the delinquency of a minor under AS 11.51.130 ;
(6) a felony involving possession of a controlled or imitation controlled substance under AS 11.71 or AS 11.73;
(7) a felony or misdemeanor involving distribution of a controlled or imitation controlled substance under AS 11.71 or AS 11.73;
(8) promoting prostitution in the first or second degree under AS 11.66.110 or 11.66.120;
(9) indecent exposure in the first or second degree under AS 11.41.458 or 11.41.460.
(d) The department may not issue a license to an applicant who has been convicted of driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, inhalant, or controlled substance under AS 28.35.030 within two years of the time of application or to an applicant who has two or more convictions for driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, inhalant, or controlled substance within 10 years of the time of application.
(e) For purposes of determining whether an applicant has been convicted of an offense listed under (c) or (d) of this section, a conviction under prior state law or in another jurisdiction of an offense having elements substantially similar to those of the offenses listed in (c) or (d) of this section is considered a conviction.
(f) Costs of conducting the background check required under (b)(4) of this section shall be paid by the applicant. Application for renewal may be made by submitting to the department the results of a current physical examination and paying the required fee.