The School Bus Safety Act seeks to improve school bus safety in Ohio by establishing August as "School Bus Safety Awareness Month" and creating a dedicated school bus safety fund financed by criminal fines for related violations. This fund will be managed by the director of education and workforce, who will allocate grants to school districts for enhancing safety features on school buses. The bill specifies that these grants can be used for various safety technologies, such as external cameras and lane departure warning systems, and mandates that all deputy registrars and driver examination locations display graphics instructing drivers to stop for school buses.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments to existing laws regarding traffic violations related to school buses, imposing fines ranging from $350 to $2,000 for repeat offenders and requiring first-time offenders to complete a school bus safety course. It clarifies the responsibilities of drivers when encountering stopped school buses and establishes that citations cannot be issued solely based on camera footage. The bill also expands the definition of "vehicle used for pupil transportation" to include certain vehicles operated by chartered nonpublic and community schools, while appropriating $10 million for school bus safety initiatives. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance safety through stricter enforcement and educational measures.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4503.03, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, 4511.76
As Reported By House Committee: 4503.03, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, 4511.76
As Re-referred to House Committee: 4503.03, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, 4511.76
As Passed By House: 4503.03, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, 4511.76