The Alabama House unanimously approved legislation Thursday sponsored by State Representative Kenneth Paschal, R-Pelham, designed to help school systems across the state address persistent shortages in school bus drivers.
“Reliable student transportation is foundational to education, public safety and working families,” Paschal said. “My legislation gives local school systems a practical tool to address bus driver shortages while respecting the service and earned benefits of Alabama’s retirees.”
House Bill 138 addresses school transportation staffing shortages by allowing certain retirees under the Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers’ Retirement System to work as full-time school bus drivers, provided specific compensation and benefit conditions are met.
School systems across Alabama, particularly in rural and underserved areas, continue to face shortages of qualified bus drivers, which results in delayed routes, disrupted schedules and transportation challenges for students and families.
Paschal said HB138 aims to help ease those shortages by allowing experienced public retirees to continue serving their communities and helping ensure uninterrupted student transportation.
Under the bill’s provisions, public retirees may work as bus drivers without suspending their earned Retirement Systems of Alabama benefits, provided statutory safeguards are met. The measure does not create new or recurring state appropriations and gives local school systems greater flexibility to hire qualified personnel.
By expanding the available pool of drivers, HB138 supports public safety and student welfare by helping ensure students are transported safely to and from school each day.
The legislation includes a sunset provision ending December 31, 2030, allowing future legislatures to evaluate its effectiveness and make adjustments based on outcomes.
HB138 now moves to the Alabama Senate for consideration.
