This bill mandates that all new school buses purchased on or after January 1, 2026, must be equipped with lap-shoulder belts for each passenger. It requires school districts to adopt a publicly available policy enforcing the use of these belts and ensures that they are properly maintained. The bill also limits governmental liability in cases where a passenger fails to use or improperly uses a lap-shoulder belt, provided the school district has an enforceable policy in place. Additionally, it outlines exemptions for school buses purchased before the specified date or if a school district determines that budget constraints prevent the purchase of a bus with lap-shoulder belts.

The bill revises several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to accommodate these changes, including amendments to definitions, bid letting requirements, and registration fees. Notably, it decreases certain registration fees for buses equipped with lap-shoulder belts by 10%. The bill also clarifies that differential costs related to outfitting buses with lap-shoulder belts are not subject to the 12% limit on contract costs. The effective date of the bill is set for July 1, 2025, and it will apply to school years beginning on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-10-101, 20-10-125, 20-10-141, 61-3-529, 61-9-421