HCS/HBs 296 & 438 - This act modifies provisions relating to school personnel. RETIRED SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS (Section 168.036) Currently, the limitations for members of the Public School Retirement System and the Public Education Employee Retirement Systems ("PSRS/PEERS") to work as a substitute teacher after retirement are waived until June 30, 2025. This act waives such limitations until June 30, 2030. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 68 (2025), SB 705 (2025), SB 708 (2025), provisions in HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 10 (2025), HB 965 (2025), HB 1039 (2025), provisions in HCS/HB 267 (2025), provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), provisions in HCS/HB 712 (2025), and provisions in HCS/HB 1153 (2025). SCHOOL BACKGROUND CHECKS (Section 168.133) This act adds charter schools to provisions of state law requiring background checks to be conducted on school personnel. The act repeals language specifying the types of work screened volunteers might do for a school district or charter school. The act requires background checks to be conducted not only on school bus drivers, but also on the drivers of other vehicles owned by school districts and charter schools. For drivers employed or contracted by a pupil transportation company that is under contract with a school district or charter school, the pupil transportation company shall conduct the criminal background check. These provisions are identical to SB 460 (2025) and provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), substantially similar to provisions in SB 143 (2025), similar to provisions in HCS/HB 538 (2025), provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 572 (2025), SB 460 (2025), and provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024), and substantially similar to HCS/HB 2423 (2024). SCHOOL BUS DRIVER'S LICENSE ENDORSEMENTS (Sections 302.177, 302.272, and 302.735) Currently, driver's license applicants aged 70 or older seeking a school bus endorsement are required to renew their endorsed noncommercial driver's licenses annually rather than every 3 years, are eligible for waiver of the license renewal fee, are required to perform a school bus driver's skills test annually rather than every 3 years, and are required to renew endorsed commercial driver's licenses annually rather than every 3 years. This act increases, from 70 to 75, the age at which these requirements begin, and changes the annual requirements to biennial requirements. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 68 (2025), substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 538 (2025) and provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 572 (2025), and similar to HCS/HBs 1626 & 1940 (2024). ERIC VANDER WEERD