(a) The legislature finds that recruiting and retaining bus operators, including substitute bus operators, is a substantial challenge for county boards of education. Accordingly, county boards of education are hereby permitted to establish locally funded training programs for prospective bus operators in accordance with this section.

(b) County board funded training programs for prospective bus operators are subject to the following:

(1) The program is submitted to the West Virginia Department of Education and is approved;

(2) The program may only be utilized if the county board is unable to maintain an adequate number of substitute bus operators in its pool or is experiencing a shortage in adequately staffing its school transportation system;

(3) The program includes requirements for program participants to submit to and pass pursuant to §18A-4-8e(j)(4) of this code, a background check, and submit to and pass pursuant to W. Va. §126CSR92, the West Virginia School Bus Transportation Policy and Procedures Manual (Policy 4336), a drug screen;

(4) The program specifies the amount of any stipend to be paid to program participants or any reimbursement of participant costs or other benefit upon successful completion, if any, and any penalties for failure to complete the program, if any;

(5) The program specifies any obligation on participants who successfully complete the program to apply or become employed by the county board as a bus operator for a period of time, if any, and any penalty for failure to comply with any post program completion requirements, if any;

(6) The county board posts bus operator training program position openings on the county board web site and may advertise them in other media, including any appropriate qualifications;

(c) A program approved by the Department of Education must ensure completion of all requirements to become classified as a bus operator.

(d) Completion of a county board bus operator training program does not entitle a participant to any employment as a bus operator for the county board providing the program. The person may attain regular employment status only upon successful application in accordance with this article for an open bus operator position with the county.

(e) No person completing a bus operator training program in accordance with this section may accrue seniority for time spent in the training program.