This bill aims to enhance penalties for individuals who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus, thereby increasing the safety of schoolchildren. Key amendments include the introduction of bus camera footage as admissible evidence for identifying the vehicle owner or operator, which must be made available by subpoena. The bill also stipulates that the owner of a vehicle cited for a violation has the right to access the recording upon request. The penalties for violations have been significantly increased; a first offense will now be classified as a class B misdemeanor with a fine of $300 and a mandatory 7-day license suspension, while subsequent offenses will escalate to class A misdemeanors with fines starting at $750 and potential jail time.

Additionally, the bill outlines stricter consequences for repeat offenders, including mandatory jail sentences and indefinite license revocation for third or subsequent violations. The previous penalties, which included fines ranging from $150 to $1,000 and discretionary license suspensions, have been replaced with more severe measures to deter violations. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local judicial and correctional systems due to the changes in penalties and enforcement.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:54
As Amended by the House: 265:54
As Amended by the Senate: 265:54
HB1308 text: 265:54