The bill amends the Pupil Transportation Act to enhance safety regulations for the transportation of students. It stipulates that all school buses used for transporting pupils must meet or exceed federal motor vehicle safety standards. Additionally, it prohibits the use of vehicles other than school buses for transporting students unless they are motor buses or public transit agency vehicles. The bill introduces a new section, 10b, which allows schools to contract with public transit agencies for pupil transportation only when no other suitable options are available.

Under the new provisions, public transit agency vehicles must comply with state and federal safety regulations, and contracts must include specific safety measures, such as agreeing on safe routes, conducting criminal background checks on drivers, and ensuring that drivers meet certain qualifications. The bill also mandates that public transit vehicles pick up and drop off students at designated locations that do not require crossing roadways, and it requires the activation of hazard lights during these processes. Furthermore, schools must verify that the vehicles used by public transit agencies have passed safety inspections before they can be utilized for pupil transportation.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 257.1810