1.     a.    Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if an individual transports students or other passengers in a school vehicle for which a commercial driver’s license is not required, the individual must:

(1) Hold a North Dakota driver’s license; (2) Be free from communicable diseases; (3) Be in good physical health and have normal use of both hands, both feet, both eyes, and both ears; (4) Be of sound mental health; (5) Pass any drug and alcohol screening tests required by the school board; and (6) Be at least twenty-one years of age, unless the board of a school district determines that an individual not meeting this requirement can safely and adequately perform the required duties.

b.    If the vehicle being used to transport students or other passengers under this subsection is a school vehicle for which a commercial driver’s license is not required, but which is designed to seat ten to fifteen passengers, the individual must:

(1) Hold a North Dakota driver’s license; (2) Meet the physical and medical requirements established for commercial vehicle drivers; (3) Complete any annual training required by the superintendent of public instruction; (4) Be at least twenty-one years of age, unless the board of a school district determines that an individual not meeting this requirement can safely and adequately perform the required duties; and

(5) Complete the national safety council defensive driving course number four workshop within the first year of employment and at least once every five years thereafter.

2.     a.    The board of a school district may request, at any time, that a health care professional designated by the board examine an individual to determine if the individual meets the physical and medical requirements of subsection 1.

b.    The health care professional conducting the examination shall forward any charges to the individual’s insurance carrier for payment. Any examination costs for an initial examination and recertification examinations required to comply with chapter 15.1-07 which remain after application of the individual’s insurance coverage are the responsibility of the board. For any additional examinations, unless otherwise provided for by the board, any costs that remain after application of the individual’s insurance coverage are the responsibility of the individual.