instructor training, the department shall provide for and approve the course outline and lesson plans used in the course. For transit bus and farm labor vehicle driver training, the department shall approve the course outline and lesson plans used in the course.

may approve courses of instruction and train transit bus drivers in order to meet the requirements for certification pursuant to Section 12804.6 of the Vehicle Code.

An original applicant for a certificate to drive any bus defined by Section 546 or 642 of the Vehicle Code shall have successfully completed a minimum 35-hour course of instruction. The course shall include at least 15 hours of classroom instruction, including, but not limited to, all units of the Instructor’s Manual for California’s Bus Driver’s Training Course, or other classroom curricula which the department has certified meets or exceeds the standards in its curricula. All classroom instruction shall be given by, or in the presence of, a state-certified instructor of the appropriate class, except that an instructor who has received a certificate as described in subdivision (d) of Section 40081, may provide the training for an original applicant for a certificate to drive a bus defined by Section 642 of the Vehicle Code. The course shall also include at least 20 hours of applicant behind-the-wheel training in all sections of the Instructor’s Behind-the-Wheel Guide for California’s Bus Driver’s Training Course, or at least 20 hours of other behind-the-wheel training or driving experience that the department has certified meets or exceeds the standards of its training course. Applicant behind-the-wheel training shall include driving vehicles comparable to those vehicles that will be used to transport passengers. All behind-the-wheel training for a certificate to drive a bus defined by Section 546 of the Vehicle Code shall be given by a state-certified instructor of the appropriate class or the delegated behind-the-wheel trainer as designated pursuant to Section 40084.5. All behind-the-wheel training for a certificate to drive a bus defined by Section 642 of the Vehicle Code shall be given by a state-certified instructor of the appropriate class or the delegated behind-the-wheel trainer as designated pursuant to Section 40084.5, or the delegated behind-the-wheel trainer as designated by the instructor certified pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 40081.

An original applicant for a certificate to drive a farm labor vehicle shall have successfully completed a minimum 20-hour course of instruction. The course shall include at least 10 hours of classroom instruction, including, but not limited to, all units of the Instructor’s Manual for California’s Bus Driver’s Training Course. All classroom instruction shall be given by, or in the presence of, a state-certified instructor of the appropriate class. The course shall also include at least 10 hours of applicant behind-the-wheel training in all sections of the Instructor’s Behind-the-Wheel Guide for California’s Bus Driver’s Training Course. Applicant behind-the-wheel training shall include driving vehicles comparable to those that will be driven by the applicant to transport farm passengers. All behind-the-wheel training shall be given by a state-certified instructor of the appropriate class or the delegated behind-the-wheel trainer as designated pursuant to Section 40084.5.

Applicants seeking to renew a certificate to drive a schoolbus as defined in Section 545 of the Vehicle Code or a school pupil activity bus as defined in Section 546 of the Vehicle Code shall have successfully completed at least 10 hours of original or renewal classroom instruction, or behind-the-wheel or in-service training, during each 12 months of certificate validity. In-service training credit may be given by a state-certified driver instructor of the appropriate class to an applicant for attending or participating in appropriate driver training workshops, driver safety meetings, driver safety conferences, and other activities directly related to passenger safety and driver training. During the last 12 months of the

special driver certificate validity, the 10 hours required shall consist of classroom instruction covering, but not limited to, current laws and regulations, defensive driving, accident prevention, emergency procedures, passenger loading and unloading, and the inspection procedures pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 39831.3. Failure to successfully complete the required training during any 12-month period of certificate validity is cause for the Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel the bus driver certificate. All training required by Section 40089 may be accepted in lieu of the requirements of this section.

Applicants seeking to renew a certificate to drive a transit bus as defined in Section 642 of the Vehicle Code shall have successfully completed at least eight hours of original or renewal classroom instruction, or behind-the-wheel or in-service training during each 12 months of certificate validity. In-service training credit may be given by a state-certified driver instructor of the appropriate class, or an instructor certified pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 40081, to an applicant for attending or participating in appropriate driver training workshops, driver safety meetings, driver safety conferences, and other activities directly related to passenger safety and driver training. During the last 12 months of the validity of the certificate, the eight hours required shall consist of classroom instruction covering, but not limited to, current laws and regulations, defensive driving, accident prevention, emergency procedures, and passenger loading and unloading. Failure to successfully complete the required training during any 12-month period of certificate validity is cause for the Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel the busdriver certificate. All training required by Section 40089 may be accepted in lieu of the requirements of this section.

Applicants seeking to renew a certificate to drive a farm labor vehicle shall have successfully completed two hours of classroom instruction for each 12 months of certificate validity covering, but not limited to, current laws and regulations, accident prevention, and defensive driving. Failure to successfully complete the required training during any 12-month period of certificate validity is cause for the Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel the farm labor vehicle driver license or certificate. All training required in Section 40089 may be accepted in lieu of the requirements of this section.

The department may waive any or all of the requirements of this subdivision as it determines is necessary to ensure that there are an adequate number of state-certified instructors in the state.

The department may assess fees to any instructor applicant who will be training drivers of any vehicle as defined in Section 322, 545, 546, or 642 of the Vehicle Code. The fees may not be more than necessary to offset the department’s reasonable costs.

Employers shall take all action necessary to make available to every transit busdriver required to be trained pursuant to Section 40083 or 40085.5 the opportunity to be trained without the loss of wages or benefits.