House passes legislation to prevent sex offenders from driving school busses; sponsored by Rep. Paul Battles

Media release: The Georgia House of Representatives yesterday passed House Bill 215 with a vote of 157 to 4, showing tremendous bipartisan support for the measure. Sponsored by State Representative Paul Battles (R-Cartersville), this legislation ensures registered sex offenders are ineligible to receive the commercial driver's license requirements needed to drive school busses, charter busses, and other commercial vehicles that may be employed to transport children. 

"Parents send their children to school with the expectation that the individuals who interact with the students are caring, trust-worthy professionals," said Rep. Battles.  "Unfortunately, we currently have no measures in place that prevent a sex offender from driving a bus filled with children.  HB 215 increases security for children by ensuring that bus drivers do not have a proven history of hurting children."

Under HB 215, any person required to register on the State Sexual Offender Registry would be ineligible for a new or renewed "P" or "S" endorsement to a commercial driver's license.  A "P" endorsement permits a driver to operate a vehicle with 16 or more people on board, and an "S" endorsement permits a driver to operate a school bus.  If a registered sex offender fails to receive the endorsement but still drives a commercial motor vehicle that requires the endorsement, he or she would be guilty of a felony and punished by imprisonment for up to two years and/or a fine less than $5,000. 

For more information on HB 215, please click here.

 

 

Representative Paul Battles represents the citizens of District 15, which includes portions of Bartow County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2008, and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee and Secretary of the Motor Vehicles Committee.  He also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Education, and Ways & Means committees