SENATE BILL No. 932

 

 

December 13, 2005, Introduced by Senators ALLEN and GOSCHKA and referred to the Committee on Transportation.

 

 

 

      A bill to amend 1990 PA 187, entitled

 

"The pupil transportation act,"

 

by amending the title and sections 5, 7, 9, 10, 10a, 11, 21, 23,

 

25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 39, 41, 43, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 61, 67, 69,

 

70, and 73 (MCL 257.1805, 257.1807, 257.1809, 257.1810,

 

257.1810a, 257.1811, 257.1821, 257.1823, 257.1825, 257.1827,

 

257.1829, 257.1831, 257.1833, 257.1839, 257.1841, 257.1843,

 

257.1849, 257.1851, 257.1853, 257.1855, 257.1857, 257.1861,

 

257.1867, 257.1869, 257.1870, and 257.1873), sections 5, 7, 10,

 

and 10a as amended by 2000 PA 49, section 23 as amended by 1990

 

PA 322, section 33 as amended by 2001 PA 130, section 49 as

 

amended by 1994 PA 309, section 53 as amended by 2004 PA 131,

 

section 55 as amended by 2004 PA 231, and section 57 as amended

 


by 1996 PA 170; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

 1                                 TITLE

 

 2        An act to regulate the equipment, maintenance, operation,

 

 3  and use of school buses;  and pupil transportation vehicles;  to

 

 4  prescribe the qualifications of school bus  and pupil

 

 5  transportation vehicle  drivers; to prescribe the powers and

 

 6  duties of certain state and local governmental agencies; to

 

 7  create an advisory committee and to prescribe its powers and

 

 8  duties; and to prescribe remedies and penalties.

 

 9        Sec. 5.  (1) "Modified school bus" means a school bus of any

 

10  age with a factory installed fuel system that has been modified

 

11  to operate on a fuel source other than gasoline or diesel fuel.

 

12        (1)  (2)  "Motor bus" and "motor carrier of passengers" mean

 

13  those terms as defined in section 3 of the motor bus

 

14  transportation act, 1982 PA 432, MCL 474.103.

 

15        (2)  (3)  "Nonpublic school" means  a private school, a

 

16  denominational school, or a parochial school as defined by law  

 

17  that term as defined in section 5 of the revised school code,

 

18  1976 PA 451, MCL 380.5.

 

19        (3)  (4)  "Public school" means  a local school district, a

 

20  local act school district, a public school academy, a university

 

21  school, or an intermediate school district as defined by law  

 

22  that term as defined in section 5 of the revised school code,

 

23  1976 PA 451, MCL 380.5.

 

24        (5) "Pupil transportation vehicle" means any vehicle other

 

25  than a school bus with a manufacturer's rated seating capacity of

 


 1  11 or more passengers, including the driver, that is used to

 

 2  transport pupils to or from school or school-related events.

 

 3  Pupil transportation vehicle does not include a vehicle operated

 

 4  by a motor carrier of passengers or a public transit agency, or a

 

 5  vehicle used by a parent or a parent's designee to transport his

 

 6  or her children to or from school or school-related events.

 

 7        (6) "Rehabilitated school bus" means a bus that is at least

 

 8  4 years old and has accumulated at least 100,000 miles, or is 7

 

 9  years old; and that has been thoroughly inspected and had all

 

10  systems repaired, replaced, or adjusted to meet the department of

 

11  state police inspection requirements including but not limited

 

12  to:

 

13        (a) Engine overhaul of short block.

 

14        (b) New tires on the front axle.

 

15        (c) New recap tires on the rear axle.

 

16        (d) New brake linings and drums.

 

17        (e) New hydraulic brake lines.

 

18        (f) New front and rear springs.

 

19        (g) New paint in the interior.

 

20        (h) New exhaust system.

 

21        (4)  (7)  "Rule" means a rule promulgated pursuant to the

 

22  administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

23  24.328.

 

24        (5)  (8)  "School" means either a public school or a

 

25  nonpublic school, or both.

 

26        Sec. 7. (1) "School bus" means a motor vehicle  ,other than

 

27  a pupil transportation vehicle,  with a manufacturer's rated

 


 1  seating capacity of 11 or more passengers, including the driver,

 

 2  used for the transportation of preprimary, primary, or secondary

 

 3  school pupils to or from school or school-related events  that is

 

 4  owned by a school or is used to transport pupils under a contract

 

 5  or agreement with a school  or a multifunctional school activity

 

 6  bus manufactured after September 2, 2003 as defined in 49 CFR

 

 7  571.3, 49 CFR 571.108, and 49 CFR 571.131. School bus does not

 

 8  include a vehicle operated by a public transit agency or

 

 9  authority or by a motor carrier certified by the state

 

10  transportation department unless the vehicle is used  exclusively  

 

11  primarily to transport pupils to or from school or school-related

 

12  events or is used to transport pupils along a route  designed to

 

13  serve 1 or more schools in a school district if elementary school

 

14  pupils along the route  where the pupils are required to cross

 

15  the  highway or  roadway, as described in section 55. A vehicle

 

16  that is not a school bus is not subject to this act. For the

 

17  purposes of this act, a parent, parent's designee, or legal

 

18  guardian transporting his or her child or another child with

 

19  written permission of the other child's parent or legal guardian

 

20  on a school-related event in a vehicle not owned or contracted

 

21  for by the school,  if not compensated by the school, shall not

 

22  be considered an agent of the school  is not subject to this act.

 

23         (2) "School transportation vehicle" means any motor vehicle

 

24  with a manufacturer's rated seating capacity of 10 passengers or

 

25  less, including the driver, when operated for the scheduled

 

26  transportation of pupils to or from school or school-related

 

27  events. School transportation vehicle does not include a vehicle

 


 1  used by a parent or parent's designee to transport children to or

 

 2  from school or school-related events.

 

 3        (2)  (3)  "Type I school bus" means a school bus with a

 

 4  gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.

 

 5        (3)  (4)  "Type II school bus" means a school bus with a

 

 6  gross vehicle rating of 10,000 pounds or less.

 

 7        (5) "Type I premium school bus" means a school bus with a

 

 8  passenger capacity of over 66 pupils and any other school bus

 

 9  purchased by a district at a cost for the vehicle, excluding

 

10  interest and special equipment, which exceeds by more than 15%

 

11  the average cost of a school bus meeting state minimum

 

12  specifications of the same capacity purchased during the same

 

13  year.

 

14        Sec. 9. The state board of education shall regulate pupil

 

15  transportation. The state board or its authorized representative

 

16  may review, confirm, set aside, or amend the action, order, or

 

17  decision of a school with reference to the routes over which

 

18  pupils shall be transported, and the suitability and number of

 

19  the vehicles and equipment for the transportation of the pupils.

 

20  The state board shall promulgate rules as necessary to implement

 

21  this act except that the department of state police, in

 

22  cooperation with the state board,  shall  may promulgate rules  

 

23  for safety specifications and operational procedures for school

 

24  buses and pupil transportation vehicles  related to vehicle and

 

25  equipment standards.

 

26        Sec. 10. (1) Each  motor vehicle  school bus owned or

 

27  operated by a public or private nonpublic school, an agent of a

 


 1  school, a private business, or a unit of government for the

 

 2  transportation of pupils to or from school or school-related

 

 3  events shall meet or exceed the federal motor vehicle safety

 

 4  standards applicable to the construction and sale of that  

 

 5  vehicle  school bus and for all seating positions in that

 

 6  vehicle. A school or an agent of a school may transport pupils

 

 7  with disabilities in mobile seating devices in accordance with

 

 8  federal standards specifically applicable to such pupils, their

 

 9  wheelchairs, and related wheelchair securement and occupant

 

10  protection systems.

 

11        (2) A vehicle, other than a school bus, with a

 

12  manufacturer's rated seating capacity of 11 or more passengers,

 

13  including the driver, shall not be used to transport pupils to or

 

14  from school or school-related events.  after October 1, 2002,

 

15  except as provided in this act.  

 

16        (3) A school shall not purchase a vehicle to transport

 

17  pupils to or from school or school-related events having a

 

18  manufacturer's rated seating capacity of 11 or more passengers,

 

19  including the driver, that does not meet or exceed the passenger

 

20  protection federal motor vehicle safety standards applicable to

 

21  that vehicle. A school shall not purchase a vehicle to be used to

 

22  transport passengers to or from school or school-related events

 

23  for which there are no applicable passenger protection federal

 

24  motor vehicle safety standards. This subsection applies to

 

25  vehicles, other than school buses, purchased on or after October

 

26  1, 1993.

 

27        (4) Vehicles used by parents or a parent's designee to

 


 1  transport their children to and from school and school-related

 

 2  events under contract with the school are exempt from the

 

 3  requirements of this section.

 

 4        (3)  (5)  Subsection (2) does not apply to a commercial

 

 5  motor vehicle operated by a carrier certificated by the state

 

 6  transportation department, or a bus operated by a public transit

 

 7  agency or authority  excluded from the definition of school bus

 

 8  as described in section 7(1)  unless the vehicle is used

 

 9  primarily to transport pupils to or from school or school-related

 

10  events or is used to transport pupils along a route where the

 

11  pupils are required to cross the roadway, as described in section

 

12  55.

 

13        Sec. 10a. (1) A school may contract with a licensed motor

 

14  carrier of passengers for a motor bus to be used for occasional

 

15  transportation of pupils to or from school-related events. A

 

16  school shall not directly operate a motor bus for the use of

 

17  pupil transportation to and from school or school-related events.

 

18  A motor carrier certified by the state transportation department

 

19  shall not use a motor bus primarily to transport pupils to and

 

20  from school.

 

21        (2)  The  Before the effective date of the amendatory act

 

22  that amended this section, the department of education may

 

23  authorize the use of a motor bus for the regular route

 

24  transportation of pupils to or from school or home. The

 

25  authorization shall be in writing and shall include conditions or

 

26  restrictions that are necessary to safeguard the health, safety,

 

27  and welfare of the pupils. Any authorization that is entered into

 


 1  before the effective date of the amendatory act that amended this

 

 2  subsection shall remain in effect for the time it is authorized.

 

 3        (3) A motor bus built to school bus specifications that

 

 4  complies with the applicable federal motor vehicle safety

 

 5  standards [is exempt from? shall comply with?] the requirements

 

 6  of this act.

 

 7        Sec. 11. (1) This section and sections 13 to 21 apply to

 

 8  both type I and type II school buses except where specifically

 

 9  provided otherwise.

 

10        (2) A type I school bus shall have an outside body width of

 

11  not more than  96  102 inches; an outside overall length of not

 

12  more than  40  45 feet; and an inside height of not less than 72

 

13  inches, aisle floor surface to ceiling. A type II school bus

 

14  shall have an outside body width of not more than  96  102 inches  

 

15  ;  and an inside height of not less than 60 inches, aisle floor

 

16  surface to ceiling.

 

17        (3) A bus shall be attached firmly to the chassis. A spacer

 

18  shall be inserted between the body and the frame at every point

 

19  of contact so that shearing stresses are not put on rivet heads.

 

20        (4) A bus floor shall be of metal at least equal in strength

 

21  to 14-gauge steel and so constructed and maintained that exhaust

 

22  gases cannot enter the bus. The floor, including wheelhousing,

 

23  aisle, and stepwell, shall be covered and maintained with  1/8-

 

24  inch smooth rubber or an equivalent as determined by the

 

25  department of state police. The aisles shall be covered and

 

26  maintained with 3/16-inch ribbed rubber or an equivalent as

 

27  determined by the department of state police. The rib-aisle shall

 


 1  continue to the stepwell. Metal longitudinal strips shall be

 

 2  applied to the aisle seams.  a slip-resistant surface. Floors

 

 3  shall be coved to the walls. All closures between the body and

 

 4  the engine compartment shall be fitted with gaskets which

 

 5  effectively prevent gas from entering the body. The bus body

 

 6  floor, cross members, and skirts shall be completely undercoated.

 

 7  A transmission inspection plate, if any, need not  be rubber-

 

 8  covered  have a slip-resistant surface but shall be firmly

 

 9  attached.  Plywood floors are optional.

 

10        (5) Sedan-type doors shall not be used on type I school

 

11  buses. When a jackknife-type service door is used, it shall fold

 

12  forward toward the front of the bus. If a split-type service door

 

13  is used, it shall open outward. Sedan-type doors may be used on

 

14  service entrances of type II buses. The steps of a service door

 

15  entrance shall be covered with 3/16-inch molded ribbed rubber or

 

16  other nonslip surface.

 

17        (6) An emergency exit shall be provided as follows:

 

18        (a) Type I school bus: the upper and lower portion of the

 

19  central rear emergency door shall be equipped with approved

 

20  safety glass. The door shall be hinged on the right side and the

 

21  door handle located on the extreme left. Piano hinges shall not

 

22  be used. The handle shall be in the vertical position when

 

23  latched. A locking device of any kind shall not be attached to,

 

24  or made a part of, the emergency door unless the locking device

 

25  meets all of the following criteria:

 

26        (i) The device is integrated into the ignition system.

 

27        (ii) The device is tamper resistant.

 


 1        (iii) The device has an audible alarm system.

 

 2        (iv) The device has an audible alarm near the driver's seat

 

 3  that will sound when the door is locked and the ignition is on.

 

 4        (v) The device is approved by the department of state

 

 5  police.

 

 6        (b) Type II school bus: subdivision (a) applies to type II

 

 7  buses except that  body gauge metal may be substituted for safety

 

 8  glass in the lower portion of the rear emergency door, and  

 

 9  double rear emergency doors may be used. A double rear emergency

 

10  door shall have a 3-point latch.

 

11        (7) A bus body shall be lined with fiberglass or a

 

12  comparable nonsettling, nonabsorbent insulation.

 

13        (8) Book racks shall not be installed in a school bus.

 

14        (9) The electrical system shall be 12 volt D.C. provided

 

15  through an alternator with a minimum of 100 amp rating and a

 

16  minimum battery storage capacity of 500 CCA with gasoline engine,

 

17  or 900 CCA with diesel engine provided through 1 12-volt battery,

 

18  2 12-volt batteries, or 2 6-volt batteries. There shall not be an

 

19  opening through the floor of the bus to service the battery.

 

20        (10) All baggage, articles, equipment, or medical supplies

 

21  not held by individual passengers shall be secured in a manner

 

22  which assures unrestricted access to all exits by all occupants,

 

23  does not restrict the driver's ability to operate the bus, and

 

24  protects all occupants against injury resulting from falling or

 

25  displacement of any baggage, article, or equipment. Oxygen

 

26  cylinders secured to a wheelchair shall be considered to be in

 

27  compliance with this subsection, provided they do not impede

 


 1  access to any exit.

 

 2        (11) Radio speakers shall be no closer to the driver than 3

 

 3  seat positions behind the driver. This subsection does not apply

 

 4  to radio speakers for 2-way communication devices.

 

 5        Sec. 21.  (1) A school bus shall be equipped with 2

 

 6  windshield wipers and 2 windshield washers. A washer reservoir

 

 7  shall be 70 ounces or more.

 

 8        (2) A windshield shall be slanted to prevent glare and large

 

 9  enough to permit the driver to see the road clearly.

 

10        (3) All glass shall be safety glass and shall comply with

 

11  the requirements of section 27, where applicable.  A school bus

 

12  shall be equipped with windshield wipers, washers, a washer

 

13  reservoir, and a windshield that meets the requirements of 49 CFR

 

14  571.103 and 571.104.

 

15        Sec. 23. (1) A school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  

 

16  shall be equipped in a manner that the driver, in a normal seated

 

17  position, either by direct vision or by use of an indirect vision

 

18  mirror system, shall be able to observe objects on the roadway in

 

19  front of and beside the vehicle located inside a continuously

 

20  visible rectangular area.  having a length defined as the length

 

21  of the vehicle plus not less than 18 feet in front of the vehicle

 

22  and a width defined as the width of the vehicle plus not less

 

23  than 2 feet on either side of the vehicle. A mirror used to

 

24  comply with this subsection shall be at least 7-1/2 inches in

 

25  diameter and convex in shape.

 

26        (2) The interior mirror shall be clear view, safety glass

 

27  with a reflective surface  of 6 inches in height by 30 inches in

 


 1  width for type I school buses, and shall be metal-backed and

 

 2  framed  that provides a clear and reasonably unobstructed view to

 

 3  the rear of the vehicle and complies with 49 CFR 571.111. It

 

 4  shall have rounded corners and padded edges.  Interior mirrors

 

 5  for type II school buses shall have a reflective surface of 6

 

 6  inches in height by 15 inches in width and shall be protected by

 

 7  framing and padding as for type I school buses. The interior

 

 8  mirror for a pupil transportation vehicle shall be as provided by

 

 9  the manufacturer and approved by the department of state police.

 

10        (3) Sun shades, if installed, shall be mounted so that the

 

11  mounting brackets are not likely to cause injury in the event of

 

12  an accident.

 

13        (4) This section does not apply to a pupil transportation

 

14  vehicle other than a passenger van that is used as a pupil

 

15  transportation vehicle.

 

16        Sec. 25. (1) A school bus shall be equipped with at least 1,

 

17  2A-10BC dry chemical fire extinguisher, or its equivalent,  that

 

18  is approved by the department of state police and  that has an

 

19  aluminum, brass, or bronze valve. The extinguisher shall be

 

20  mounted securely in an accessible place in the driver's

 

21  compartment and shall be in satisfactory operating condition at

 

22  all times.

 

23        (2) A school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  shall be

 

24  equipped with a first aid kit which shall be firmly mounted with

 

25  a quick release bracket in an accessible location in the driver's

 

26  compartment and which shall contain, at a minimum, all of the

 

27  following:

 


 

  (a) Bandage compress (sterile gauze pads),...

4-inch ..................................... 2 packages.

  (b) Bandage compress (sterile gauze pads),...

2-inch .................................... 2 packages.

  (c) Adhesive compress, 1-inch ........... 2 packages.

  (d) Triangular bandage with 2 safety pins,...

40-inch ................................... 1 package.

  (e) Roll gauze .......................... 1 package.

  (f) Elastic bandage, 3-inch ............. 1 package.

 

 

10        Antiseptics and burn ointments shall not be included, except

 

11  as required by the state transportation department.

 

12        (3) A school bus  or a pupil transportation vehicle  shall

 

13  be equipped with 3 bidirectional emergency reflective triangles

 

14  which are properly cased and securely mounted and 3 red-burning

 

15  fusees which are capable of burning not less than 15 minutes and

 

16  which are properly cased and securely mounted in the driver's

 

17  compartment. Fusees and reflectors shall comply with the

 

18  standards set forth in this act and the rules promulgated

 

19  pursuant to this act.

 

20        Sec. 27. (1) A school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  

 

21  shall be equipped with safety glass wherever glass is used in

 

22  doors, windows, and windshields. Rigid safety plastic which meets

 

23  the test requirements of American national standards institute

 

24  standard Z26.1-1966 may be used on school buses in lieu of safety

 

25  glass, except that front windshields shall be equipped with

 

26  safety glass. School buses shall be fitted with at least 1 push-

 

27  out window sash on each side of any school bus on which the


 

 1  plastic panes are installed.

 

 2        (2) As used in this section, "safety glass" means a product

 

 3  composed of glass, so manufactured, fabricated, or treated as

 

 4  substantially to prevent shattering and flying of the glass when

 

 5  struck or broken.

 

 6        Sec. 29. Any part of a  gasoline  fuel tank or container or

 

 7  intake pipe shall not be located within or above the passenger-

 

 8  carrying portion of a school bus unless securely sealed off from

 

 9  that portion by means of a substantial metal cover. Fuel lines

 

10  shall not extend above the frame rails. The gasoline container,

 

11  including intake pipe, cap and vent on a school bus manufactured

 

12  subsequent to December 31, 1964, shall be so designed that, in

 

13  the event of overturn, the  gasoline  fuel will not be spilled at

 

14  a rate in excess of 1 ounce per minute.

 

15        Sec. 31. A school bus may be equipped with a flashing,

 

16  oscillating, or rotating light mounted on the roof of the bus

 

17  approximately 6 feet from the rear of the vehicle which displays

 

18  a white light to the front, side, and rear of the bus.  which  If

 

19  a school bus is equipped with such a light, there is no

 

20  requirement that a driver use it. The light  may  shall not be

 

21  actuated by the driver  for use only in inclement  unless 1 or

 

22  more of the following conditions exist:

 

23        (a) Inclement weather such as fog, rain, or snow.  , when

 

24  boarding or discharging 

 

25        (b) When passengers  , from  are boarding or being

 

26  discharged.

 

27        (c) From 1/2 hour  before  after sunset until 1/2 hour  


 

 1  after  before sunrise.  , or where  

 

 2        (d) Where conditions hinder the visibility of the school

 

 3  bus.

 

 4        Sec. 33. (1) A school bus shall be painted as follows:

 

 5        (a) The body, cowl, hood, and fenders shall be national

 

 6  school bus chrome yellow.

 

 7        (b) The bumper, body trim, wheels, and lettering shall be

 

 8  black. The wheel rims shall be gray, black, white, or natural, as

 

 9  provided by the manufacturer.

 

10        (c) The wheel covers, if painted, shall be black.

 

11        (d) The grill, if not chrome, shall be national school bus

 

12  chrome yellow.

 

13        (e) The mirrors, if painted, shall be black or yellow.

 

14        (f) The name of the school district or contractor shall be  

 

15  painted  permanently affixed in black letters that are at least 6

 

16  inches high on the  back, front, and  sides of the bus. The name

 

17  of the school district or contractor shall be permanently affixed

 

18  on the front and back of the bus in black letters.

 

19        (g) The words "school bus" shall be permanently affixed on

 

20  the front and back of the bus between the overhead flashers in

 

21  black letters that are at least 8 inches in height.

 

22        (h) The outside of a school bus shall not have any other

 

23  lettering, symbol, marking, or advertising, except that animal

 

24  pictures, cartoon figures, and similar insignia may be affixed to

 

25  the bus in a temporary manner near the entrance door, but not

 

26  closer than the second window, to assist in identifying the bus

 

27  route. A unique identification number may be permanently affixed


 

 1  on the upper corners of the back, front, or sides of the bus. A

 

 2  contractor shall display a USDOT number when required and in the

 

 3  manner required by 49 CFR parts 390 to 399.

 

 4        (i) Wording for school bus roof and door emergency exits,

 

 5  for inside and outside the bus, shall comply with the motor

 

 6  vehicle safety standards found in 49 CFR 571.217.

 

 7        (j) The roof of a school bus may be white or yellow.

 

 8  However, no part of a school bus may be white below the drip rail

 

 9  above the side windows.

 

10        (2) Except for a bus leased seasonally to transport

 

11  agricultural workers to and from a field for agricultural

 

12  operations, a bus, other than a school bus, shall not be painted,

 

13  in whole or in part, in the colors and design specified in

 

14  subsection (1).

 

15        (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to multifunctional school

 

16  activity buses.

 

17        (4) This section does not apply to a motor carrier certified

 

18  by the state transportation department using a motor bus for

 

19  school-related event transportation.

 

20        Sec. 39. (1) The department of state police shall inspect

 

21  each school bus  and pupil transportation vehicle  annually, and  

 

22  more frequently at a school  as the department of state police

 

23  determines necessary where school bus  or pupil transportation

 

24  vehicle  defects have been found, to determine if the school bus  

 

25  or pupil transportation vehicle  meets the requirements of this

 

26  act and the rules promulgated pursuant to this act. The

 

27  department of state police may delegate the inspection of school


 

 1  buses to publicly employed inspectors if the inspection complies

 

 2  with this section.

 

 3        (2) Inspection of a school bus   or pupil transportation

 

 4  vehicle  may be accomplished at any time, at any location, on or

 

 5  off a school site, and as frequently as the department of state

 

 6  police considers necessary to secure passenger safety. A school

 

 7  bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  may be rejected by the

 

 8  inspecting state police official for further use in

 

 9  transportation of passengers if it does not meet the requirements

 

10  of this act and the rules promulgated pursuant to this act.

 

11  However, if a school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  is

 

12  determined to be safe for operation even though in unsatisfactory

 

13  condition, the official may determine that not more than 60 days

 

14  shall be allowed to effect a specific repair.

 

15        (3) A person,  having control over the operation of a school

 

16  bus or pupil transportation vehicle  school, or school bus owner

 

17  shall not operate or permit to be operated a school bus  or pupil

 

18  transportation vehicle  which has not been inspected under this

 

19  section.

 

20        (4) A  modified  school bus  which uses  that is modified

 

21  after manufacture to use compressed natural gas or liquefied

 

22  petroleum gas shall not be used to transport pupils unless the

 

23  installation of the fuel system has been inspected and  approved

 

24  as safe  passed by the department of state police.

 

25        (5) Any public or private entity that owns or uses a school

 

26  bus for pupil transportation shall identify itself to the

 

27  department of state police so an inspection can be scheduled. If


 

 1  an entity has had school buses inspected in the previous year, it

 

 2  is considered to have identified itself. If an entity stops pupil

 

 3  transportation in 1 year and restarts pupil transportation in a

 

 4  later year, it must identify itself to the department of state

 

 5  police as requiring inspection before restarting pupil

 

 6  transportation. An entity is considered to have identified itself

 

 7  by notifying a person of the department of state police

 

 8  responsible for conducting inspections under this act.

 

 9        (6) When an inspection is scheduled by the department of

 

10  state police, an entity shall identify to the state police

 

11  inspector all of the school buses that it intends to use for

 

12  pupil transportation in that school year. Any school bus that is

 

13  not submitted for inspection shall be rejected and have a red

 

14  sticker affixed pursuant to section 41.

 

15        (7) The department of state police may prohibit the

 

16  placement and use of any device or equipment on a school bus that

 

17  presents a safety hazard to the pupils, driver, or motorists

 

18  during the loading, unloading, or transportation of pupils.

 

19        (8) A school, before establishing a contract with a company

 

20  for school bus services, shall require the company to verify in

 

21  writing that the buses used by the contractor have been inspected

 

22  by the department of state police and have passed that

 

23  inspection. The school shall specify in a written contract that

 

24  the contractor will not use any school buses that have not been

 

25  inspected or have failed inspection, and that a violation of this

 

26  provision of the contract will result in revocation of the

 

27  contract. The contract shall specify that the contractor shall


 

 1  submit, in writing, the inspection results of its entire fleet of

 

 2  buses to the school within 30 days of the completion of the

 

 3  department of state police inspection. A school shall identify to

 

 4  the department of state police all of the contractors the school

 

 5  is using upon request.

 

 6        Sec. 41. (1) A school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  

 

 7  may be rejected by the inspecting state official for use in

 

 8  transporting passengers if it does not meet the requirements of

 

 9  this act and the rules promulgated pursuant to this act.

 

10        (2) A vehicle that is determined by a state police official

 

11  to be unsafe for further operation as a school bus  or pupil

 

12  transportation vehicle  shall not be used in the transportation

 

13  of any passengers. An unsafe vehicle shall have affixed to its

 

14  windshield, by the state police official, a red sticker which

 

15  shall read as follows: "This vehicle may not be driven in the

 

16  transportation of any passenger. Utilization of this vehicle to

 

17  transport passengers is in violation of law. {reverse side} Do

 

18  not remove without State Police authorization." The sticker shall

 

19  remain until the condition is corrected.

 

20        (3) A school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  that is

 

21  considered to be in unsatisfactory condition, but that is safe

 

22  for operation, shall have affixed to its windshield by the state

 

23  police official a yellow sticker which shall read as follows:

 

24  "This vehicle has equipment defects. {reverse side} Repairs and

 

25  reinspection shall be obtained on or before _____. Do not remove

 

26  without State Police authorization." If, upon reinspection, the

 

27  vehicle defect has not been repaired, replaced, or corrected, the


 

 1  state police official shall remove the yellow sticker and affix a

 

 2  red sticker to the vehicle. Exceptions may be made when the

 

 3  necessary parts or equipment has been ordered but not received at

 

 4  the time of reinspection. Reinspection may take place within 60

 

 5  days after the original inspection.

 

 6        (4) A school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  that is

 

 7  considered to be in satisfactory condition after inspection by a

 

 8  state police official shall have a Michigan vehicle inspection

 

 9  passing sticker affixed to its windshield. The owner of a school

 

10  bus shall remove or destroy the pass sticker before selling the

 

11  school bus. The display of a pass sticker on a vehicle other than

 

12  a school bus is a misdemeanor. All stickers are the property of

 

13  the department of state police.

 

14        Sec. 43. The department of state police shall inspect a new

 

15  school bus  and a new pupil transportation vehicle  before a

 

16  school accepts delivery. The department of state police shall

 

17  determine whether the new vehicle is acceptable for delivery. The

 

18  department of state police may delegate the inspection of new

 

19  school buses  and pupil transportation vehicles  to publicly

 

20  employed inspectors if the inspection complies with this

 

21  subsection. A school shall not accept delivery of a new school

 

22  bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  unless the new vehicle has

 

23  been inspected and  granted final approval  passed by the

 

24  department of state police under this subsection and title to the

 

25  school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  has been obtained by

 

26  the school in compliance with this act.

 

27        Sec. 49. (1) A person, whether or not licensed under the


 

 1  Michigan vehicle code,  Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949,

 

 2  being sections 257.1 to 257.923 of the Michigan Compiled Laws  

 

 3  1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923, who is 17 years of age or less

 

 4  shall not drive a school bus.  or pupil transportation vehicle.

 

 5        (2) A person shall not operate a school bus  or pupil

 

 6  transportation vehicle used for the regularly scheduled

 

 7  transportation of passengers to and from school and home  unless

 

 8  that person possesses a valid chauffeur's license, the

 

 9  appropriate vehicle group designation,  and  a passenger vehicle

 

10  indorsement, and a school bus indorsement as required under

 

11  section 312e of  Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, being

 

12  section 257.312e of the Michigan Compiled Laws  the Michigan

 

13  vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.312e. A person with a

 

14  commercial driver license shall not operate a school bus, and a

 

15  school, school bus owner, or lessee shall not allow a person with

 

16  a commercial driver license to operate a school bus, unless the

 

17  operation is in compliance with the drug and alcohol testing

 

18  regulations under 49 CFR parts 40 and 382.

 

19        (3) A person shall not operate a school bus  or pupil

 

20  transportation vehicle  or a school administrator or a person or

 

21  entity under contract with a school to provide pupil

 

22  transportation services shall not knowingly permit a person to

 

23  operate a school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  for the  

 

24  scheduled  transportation of pupils to and from school or school-

 

25  related events if that person has 7 or more penalty points for

 

26  moving violations on his or her driving record under section 320a

 

27  of  Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, being section


 

 1  257.320a of the Michigan Compiled Laws  the Michigan vehicle

 

 2  code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.302a, or if the person has a

 

 3  restricted license due to a conviction for a violation of section

 

 4  625 of  Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, being section

 

 5  257.625 of the Michigan Compiled Laws  the Michigan vehicle code,

 

 6  1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625.

 

 7        (4) A commercial driver license skills test shall be

 

 8  administered by a state authorized commercial driver license

 

 9  examiner to a school bus driver who has had 1 or more of the

 

10  following:

 

11        (a) Had his or her driver license or commercial driver

 

12  license suspended, revoked, or canceled.

 

13        (b) Has been disqualified from operating a commercial motor

 

14  vehicle.

 

15        (c) Has been convicted of any of the disqualifying offenses

 

16  in 49 CFR 383.51(b) while operating a commercial motor vehicle or

 

17  any offense in a noncommercial motor vehicle that would be a

 

18  disqualifying condition under 49 CFR 383.51(b) if committed in a

 

19  commercial motor vehicle.

 

20        (d) Has more than 1 conviction of any of the serious traffic

 

21  violations defined in 49 CFR 383.5, while operating a commercial

 

22  motor vehicle within the last 3 years.

 

23        (e) Has been convicted of any motor vehicle traffic

 

24  violation that resulted in an accident while operating a

 

25  commercial motor vehicle.

 

26        (f) Has been disqualified from operating a school bus under

 

27  section 49(3).


 

 1        (g) A driver who is required to take a test under this

 

 2  subsection shall not operate a school bus until the driver has

 

 3  passed the test. The commercial driver license skills test shall

 

 4  be conducted by an examiner not employed or under contract with

 

 5  the same agency or school of the driver being tested.

 

 6        Sec. 51. (1) A driver of a school bus transporting

 

 7  passengers or a driver of a pupil transportation vehicle used for

 

 8  the regularly scheduled transportation of passengers to and from

 

 9  school and home  shall have in his or her possession a

 

10  certificate stating that he or she has enrolled in the entry

 

11  level school bus safety education course or has successfully

 

12  completed a course in school bus safety education within the

 

13  immediately preceding 2 years. The entry level course shall be

 

14  available to the school bus driver within 90 days of enrollment.

 

15  Enrollment certificates shall expire 10 days after the end of the

 

16  entry level course in which the driver is enrolled. A second

 

17  enrollment certificate shall not be issued. The entry level

 

18  course and subsequent 6-hour continuing education course shall be

 

19  approved by the superintendent of public instruction and shall be

 

20  provided by an approved educational agency. The certificate of

 

21  successful completion of each course shall be prescribed by the

 

22  superintendent of public instruction and successfully completed

 

23  by an instructor of the course. Failure to successfully complete

 

24  the entry level course or to complete the 6-hour continuing

 

25  education course within 2 years after certification of successful

 

26  completion of a prior course shall be reported by the

 

27  instructional agency to the department of education and to the


 

 1  school which employs the driver. A driver who fails to

 

 2  successfully complete the entry level course within 90 days after

 

 3  enrollment or to meet the continuing education requirements shall

 

 4  not be permitted to drive a school bus transporting passengers.  

 

 5  or a pupil transportation vehicle used for the regularly

 

 6  scheduled transportation of passengers to and from school and

 

 7  home.

 

 8        (2) The person or persons in charge of school bus operations

 

 9  at a school shall have, at a minimum, successfully completed the

 

10  introductory school bus safety education course established in

 

11  subsection (1) and  beginning school bus driver training program

 

12  in his or her first year serving as the person or persons in

 

13  charge of the operation. The person or persons in charge of

 

14  school bus operations at a school shall successfully complete  

 

15  not less than  6 hours of supervisory continuing education every

 

16  2 years after the successful completion of the beginning school

 

17  bus driver training program. The continuing education course or

 

18  courses shall be approved by the superintendent of public

 

19  instruction and shall be provided by an approved educational

 

20  agency.

 

21        (3) The cost of any course instruction and the base rate of

 

22  compensation of the driver shall be reimbursed by the state on an

 

23  equal basis for public and nonpublic schools as provided for by

 

24  the department of education. Attendance by a person at an entry

 

25  level course, a continuing education course, or an on-road driver

 

26  skills test as required by this section or section 52 shall be

 

27  considered compensable work time by the school and the person


 

 1  shall be paid at not less than their base rate as determined by

 

 2  their individual contract of employment or their contractual rate

 

 3  as negotiated between the school and the person's collective

 

 4  bargaining representative.

 

 5        (4) The legislature shall appropriate the funds necessary to

 

 6  implement this section.  and section 52.

 

 7        (5) The department of education shall report to the

 

 8  legislature the cost of implementing this section and section 52

 

 9  by January 1, 1991.

 

10        Sec. 53. (1)  All regular drivers and substitute drivers of

 

11  school buses transporting passengers and pupil transportation

 

12  vehicles used for the regularly scheduled transportation of

 

13  passengers to and from home  A driver of a school bus shall, at a

 

14  minimum, meet the following qualifications:

 

15        (a) The requirements of sections 49 and 51.

 

16        (b) For a school bus  or pupil transportation vehicle  

 

17  operating in intrastate transportation, the annual physical

 

18  requirements for school bus  and pupil transportation vehicle  

 

19  drivers as authorized by the superintendent of public

 

20  instruction. In meeting these physical requirements, the driver

 

21  shall be examined by a licensed physician, physicians' assistant,

 

22  or certified nurse practitioner and shall present the medical

 

23  certificate to the employer.

 

24        (c) An employer who has reason to believe that a driver is

 

25  not physically qualified to drive may require a physical

 

26  examination for that driver in accordance with subdivision (b) at

 

27  more frequent intervals. If an employer requests a physical


 

 1  examination under this subdivision, the employer shall indicate

 

 2  in writing what physical impairment covered under the

 

 3  requirements of subdivision (b) the driver is to be examined for

 

 4  and shall only be entitled to that portion of the examination

 

 5  results that pertain to that impairment. An examination requested

 

 6  by the employer under this subdivision shall be paid for by the

 

 7  employer.

 

 8        (d) A copy of the medical certificate for a driver shall be

 

 9  carried by that driver while he or she is operating a school bus.  

 

10  or pupil transportation vehicle.

 

11        (2) A record of each employed school bus  or pupil

 

12  transportation vehicle  driver, including a copy of his or her

 

13  medical certificate, department of education certification,

 

14  driver license, certificate of road test application for

 

15  employment, and any other information that relates to driver

 

16  qualification or ability to safely drive a school bus,  or pupil

 

17  transportation vehicle,  shall be maintained in the employer's

 

18  administrative office.

 

19        (3) A school shall submit transportation safety related

 

20  documents, such as driver qualification records, and vehicle

 

21  maintenance records upon request for inspection and copying to

 

22  motor carrier officers or vehicle safety inspectors of the

 

23  department of state police.

 

24        (4) Upon receipt of an application from a person for the

 

25  position of school bus driver,  or pupil transportation vehicle

 

26  driver,  a school shall request from the department of state

 

27  police a background check to determine whether the person was


 

 1  convicted of any of the following offenses:

 

 2        (a) Criminal sexual conduct in any degree.

 

 3        (b) Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct.

 

 4        (c) An attempt to commit criminal sexual conduct in any

 

 5  degree.

 

 6        (d) Felonious assault on a child, child abuse, or cruelty,

 

 7  torture, or indecent exposure involving a child.

 

 8        (e) A violation of section 145c of the Michigan penal code,

 

 9  1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145c.

 

10        (5) A person shall not smoke on a school bus.  or pupil

 

11  transportation vehicle.

 

12        (6) A person shall not possess or consume alcoholic liquor

 

13  or a controlled substance on a school bus.  or pupil

 

14  transportation vehicle.

 

15        (7) This section does not require new or additional third

 

16  party reimbursement or worker's compensation benefits for

 

17  services rendered.

 

18        Sec. 55. (1) A school bus driver shall actuate alternately

 

19  flashing lights only when the school bus is stopped or stopping

 

20  on a highway or private road for the purpose of receiving or

 

21  discharging pupils in the manner provided in this act. A school

 

22  bus driver shall not actuate the alternately flashing lights when

 

23  operating on a public highway or private road and transporting

 

24  passengers primarily other than school pupils.

 

25        (2) The driver of a school bus while operating upon the

 

26  public highways or private roadways open to the public shall

 

27  receive or discharge pupils from the bus in the following manner:


 

 1        (a) If pupils are required to cross the roadway, the driver

 

 2  of a school bus equipped with only the alternately flashing

 

 3  overhead red lights in accordance with section 17 shall activate

 

 4  the alternately flashing overhead red lights not less than 200

 

 5  feet before the stop, stop the school bus on the roadway or

 

 6  private road to provide for the safety of the pupils being

 

 7  boarded or discharged, and continue to activate the alternately

 

 8  flashing overhead red lights while receiving or discharging

 

 9  pupils. The bus shall stop in the extreme right-hand lane when

 

10  boarding or discharging pupils. Before resuming motion, the

 

11  driver shall deactivate these lights and allow congested traffic

 

12  to disperse where practicable. The deactivation of these lights

 

13  is the signal for stopped traffic to proceed.

 

14        (b) If the pupils are required to cross the roadway, the

 

15  driver of a school bus equipped with red and amber alternately

 

16  flashing overhead lights in accordance with section 19 shall

 

17  activate the alternately flashing overhead amber lights not less

 

18  than 200 feet before the stop, stop the bus on the roadway or

 

19  private road to provide for the safety of the pupils being

 

20  boarded or discharged, deactivate the alternately flashing

 

21  overhead amber lights, and activate the alternately flashing

 

22  overhead red lights while receiving or discharging pupils. The

 

23  bus shall stop in the extreme right-hand lane for the purpose of

 

24  boarding or discharging pupils. Before resuming motion, the

 

25  driver shall deactivate these lights and allow congested traffic

 

26  to disperse where practicable. The deactivation of these lights

 

27  is the signal for stopped traffic to proceed.


 

 1        (c) If the pupils are not required to cross the roadway, the

 

 2  driver of a school bus equipped with only the alternately

 

 3  flashing overhead red lights in accordance with section 17 shall

 

 4  activate the alternately flashing overhead red lights not less

 

 5  than 200 feet before the stop, stop the bus as far off the

 

 6  roadway or private road as practicable to provide for the safety

 

 7  of the pupils being boarded or discharged, and continue to

 

 8  activate the alternately flashing overhead red lights while

 

 9  receiving or discharging pupils. Before resuming motion, the

 

10  driver shall deactivate these lights and allow congested traffic

 

11  to disperse where practicable. The deactivation of these lights

 

12  is the signal for stopped traffic to proceed.

 

13        (d) If the pupils are not required to cross the roadway, the

 

14  driver of a school bus equipped with red and amber alternately

 

15  flashing overhead lights in accordance with section 19 shall

 

16  activate the alternately flashing overhead amber lights not less

 

17  than 200 feet before the stop, stop the bus as far off the

 

18  roadway or private road as practicable to provide for the safety

 

19  of the pupils being boarded or discharged, deactivate the

 

20  alternately flashing overhead amber lights, and activate the

 

21  alternately flashing overhead red lights while receiving or

 

22  discharging pupils. Before resuming motion, the driver shall

 

23  deactivate these lights and allow congested traffic to disperse

 

24  where practicable. The deactivation of these lights is the signal

 

25  for stopped traffic to proceed.

 

26        (e) If the pupils are not required to cross the roadway and

 

27  where the road has adequate width for the school bus to be pulled


 

 1  to the far right of or off the roadway or private road allowing

 

 2  traffic to flow and to provide for the safety of pupils being

 

 3  boarded or discharged, the driver shall activate the hazard

 

 4  warning lights before the stop and continue to display the lights

 

 5  until the process of receiving or discharging passengers has been

 

 6  completed if the lawful speed limit is 45 miles per hour or less.

 

 7  Before resuming motion, the driver shall deactivate these lights.

 

 8  The driver of a school bus shall only use this procedure at stops

 

 9  where the school administrator or person or entity under contract

 

10  with a school to provide pupil transportation services has

 

11  approved its use. If this hazard warning light option is not

 

12  used, the driver shall use the appropriate procedure in

 

13  subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d) as if pupils were not required

 

14  to cross the roadway.

 

15        (f) Except as provided in subdivision (e), if the pupils are

 

16  not required to cross the roadway and where the school bus may be

 

17  pulled off the roadway or private road or where the road has

 

18  adequate width for the school bus to be pulled off to the far

 

19  right of the roadway or private road leaving the normal traffic

 

20  flow unobstructed and to provide for the safety of pupils being

 

21  boarded or discharged, the driver shall activate the hazard

 

22  warning lights before the stop and continue to display the lights

 

23  until the process of receiving or discharging passengers has been

 

24  completed. Before resuming motion, the driver shall deactivate

 

25  these lights. The driver of a school bus shall only use this

 

26  procedure at stops where the school administrator or entity under

 

27  contract with a school to provide pupil transportation services


 

 1  has approved its use. If this hazard warning light option is not

 

 2  used, the driver shall use the appropriate procedure in

 

 3  subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d) as if pupils were not required

 

 4  to cross the roadway.

 

 5        (g) The distance of not less than 200 feet required for

 

 6  light activation by this subsection shall be measured on the

 

 7  roadway or private road on which the stop is made for receiving

 

 8  or discharging pupils.

 

 9        (3) Pupils crossing the roadway upon being discharged from a

 

10  school bus shall cross in front of the stopped school bus. If a

 

11  school district authorizes its school bus drivers to signal

 

12  pupils to cross in front of the stopped school bus, the signal

 

13  shall be uniform throughout the school district.

 

14        (4) The driver of a school bus shall not stop the bus for

 

15  the purpose of receiving or discharging pupils in the following

 

16  instances:

 

17        (a) Within 200 feet of a public or private roadway

 

18  intersection unless the stop is approved by the school

 

19  administrator or entity under contract with a school to provide

 

20  pupil transportation services.

 

21        (b) Upon a limited access highway or freeway, or upon any

 

22  other highway or roadway that has been divided into 2 roadways by

 

23  leaving an intervening space, a physical barrier, or clearly

 

24  divided sections so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic if

 

25  the pupils are required to cross the roadway.

 

26        (c) Upon a roadway constructed or marked to permit 3 or more

 

27  separate lanes of vehicular traffic in either direction if the


 

 1  pupils are required to cross the roadway.

 

 2        (5) The driver of a school bus when using the alternately

 

 3  flashing overhead red lights shall not stop the bus on any

 

 4  highway or roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging

 

 5  pupils under the following conditions:

 

 6        (a) If the lawful speed limit is more than 35 miles per hour

 

 7  and the stopped bus is not clearly and continuously visible to

 

 8  approaching vehicles on that highway or roadway for at least 400

 

 9  feet. When the distance from the stopped bus to the end of the

 

10  highway or roadway is less than 400 feet, clear and continuous

 

11  visibility must be available from the bus to the end of the

 

12  highway or roadway.

 

13        (b) If the lawful speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less

 

14  and the stopped bus is not clearly and continuously visible to

 

15  approaching vehicles on that highway or roadway, for at least 200

 

16  feet. When the distance from the stopped bus to the end of the

 

17  highway or roadway is less than 200 feet, clear and continuous

 

18  visibility must be available from the bus to the end of the

 

19  highway or roadway.

 

20        (c) Within 50 feet of an intersection if the intersection is

 

21  controlled by a traffic control signal.

 

22        (6) A school may provide instruction on proper school bus

 

23  etiquette which may include, but not be limited to, boarding and

 

24  leaving the bus, evacuation of the bus in an emergency, and road

 

25  crossing procedures and the correct hand signal in the district,

 

26  if any. If a school uses school bus drivers for this instruction,

 

27  the state board may reimburse the school for this training.


 

 1        (7) For the purpose of this section, "required to cross the

 

 2  roadway" does not include crossing the roadway with the

 

 3  assistance of a traffic control signal, or with the assistance of

 

 4  a school crossing guard as defined in section 57b of the Michigan

 

 5  vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.57b, and applies only to the

 

 6  roadway on which the stop is being made.

 

 7        (8) For purposes of this act, a school bus is clearly and

 

 8  continuously visible if at least that portion of a school bus

 

 9  extending from and including the headlamps and including all

 

10  front overhead lamps can be seen by traffic approaching the

 

11  school bus from the front and if at least that portion of the

 

12  school bus extending from and including the taillamps through and

 

13  including all rear overhead lamps when seen by traffic from the

 

14  rear.

 

15        Sec. 57. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), and

 

16  (4), the driver of a school bus, before crossing a railroad track

 

17  at grade, shall stop the vehicle within 50 feet but not less than

 

18  15 feet from the nearest rail, activate hazard warning lights,

 

19  turn off all interior switches including fans, heaters, and

 

20  radios, open the passenger door and driver-side window, and while

 

21  stopped shall listen and look in both directions along the track

 

22  for an approaching train and for signals indicating the approach

 

23  of a train, and shall not proceed until the driver can do so

 

24  safely. After stopping as required in this subsection, and upon

 

25  proceeding when it is safe to do so, the driver of the vehicle

 

26  shall cross only in a gear of the vehicle that does not require

 

27  changing gears while traversing the crossing. The driver shall


 

 1  not shift gears while crossing the track or tracks.

 

 2        (2) A stop need not be made at a railroad track grade

 

 3  crossing where a uniformed police officer or a traffic-control

 

 4  signal directs traffic to proceed.

 

 5        (3) A stop need not be made at an abandoned railroad track

 

 6  grade crossing. As used in this subsection, "abandoned railroad

 

 7  track" means a railroad track which meets  all  both of the

 

 8  following requirements:

 

 9        (a) The track has been  abandoned pursuant to the former

 

10  provisions of Act No. 56 of the Public Acts of 1919, being

 

11  sections 469.241 to 469.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws;

 

12  section 14 of Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1909, being

 

13  section 462.14 of the Michigan Compiled Laws; or federal law  

 

14  completely paved over or removed.

 

15        (b) The track has been covered or removed.

 

16        (b)  (c)  All signs, signals, and other warning devices are

 

17  removed.

 

18        (4) A stop shall not be made at a railroad track grade

 

19  crossing on a freeway or limited access highway where the

 

20  crossing is protected by a clearly visible signal, crossing gate,

 

21  or barrier at a time when the signal, crossing gate, or barrier

 

22  is not activated.

 

23        (5) A person who violates this section is responsible for a

 

24  civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not

 

25  more than $100.00. A civil infraction under this subsection shall

 

26  be processed in the same manner as a civil infraction under the

 

27  Michigan vehicle code,  Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949,


 

 1  being sections 257.1 to 257.923 of the Michigan Compiled Laws  

 

 2  1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923.

 

 3        Sec. 61. A person driving a school bus shall not exceed the

 

 4  speed limits established for this type of vehicle under the

 

 5  Michigan vehicle code,  Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949,

 

 6  being sections 257.1 to 257.923 of the Michigan Compiled Laws  

 

 7  1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923. A person who violates this

 

 8  section is subject to the penalty assessed for violation of

 

 9  section  627 or  627b of the Michigan vehicle code,  Act No. 300

 

10  of the Public Acts of 1949, being sections 257.627 and 257.627b

 

11  of the Michigan Compiled Laws  1949 PA 300, MCL 257.627b.

 

12        Sec. 67. (1) In compliance with section 65(8), if a

 

13  determination is made that economically feasible private

 

14  transportation does not exist, a school may contract with a

 

15  federal, state, or local unit of government, or a subcontractor

 

16  of these units, for the use of a school bus to transport persons

 

17  to or from an activity or function sponsored or operated by the

 

18  unit of government. The governmental agency, or subcontractors of

 

19  the governmental agency, shall pay the full costs incurred in the

 

20  use of a school bus. A school bus may be contracted out only in

 

21  compliance with the provisions of the school insurance policy and

 

22  any joint stipulations of the school and the school bus drivers

 

23  including, but not limited to, any collective bargaining

 

24  agreements in force or if no collective bargaining agreement

 

25  exists, agreement with the bargaining agent if it has been

 

26  designated. A school shall not purchase additional school buses

 

27  for the sole purpose of implementing this provision of law.


 

 1        (2) The provision of school buses for the purpose provided

 

 2  in subsection (1) shall not be made if bus service for  K to 12  

 

 3  pupils of the school would be compromised.

 

 4        Sec. 69. The cost of purchasing  pupil transportation

 

 5  vehicles and  school buses and the rehabilitation of school buses

 

 6  to extend the period of usefulness shall conform with the rules

 

 7  promulgated by the department of education to provide state aid

 

 8  to eligible school districts for the purchase of  pupil

 

 9  transportation vehicles and  school buses and the cost of

 

10  rehabilitation of school buses to extend the period of

 

11  usefulness.

 

12        Sec. 70. (1) The department of education shall establish an

 

13  advisory committee to advise the department on issues and topics

 

14  concerning school buses and school bus safety. The advisory

 

15  committee shall consist of a member from each of the following

 

16  departments or organizations:

 

17        (a) The department.

 

18        (b) The department of state police.

 

19        (c) The state transportation department.

 

20        (d) The department of state.

 

21        (e) The Michigan association for pupil transportation.

 

22        (f) The Michigan association of school business officials.

 

23        (g) The Michigan association of school administrators.

 

24        (h)  Buses united for safety.  The training agency

 

25  association of Michigan.

 

26        (i) A member representing nonpublic schools.

 

27        (j) The Michigan education association.


 

 1        (k) The Michigan association of school boards.

 

 2        (l) Other organizations representing school bus drivers as

 

 3  the department considers appropriate.

 

 4        (m) Any other organizations or groups the department

 

 5  considers necessary.

 

 6        (2) The advisory committee shall include members

 

 7  representing bus drivers and supervisors in rural areas, suburban

 

 8  areas, and cities in the Lower and Upper Peninsula.

 

 9        (3) The advisory committee shall assist the department in

 

10  the development of continuing education courses for school bus

 

11  drivers and supervisors, any modifications to the introductory

 

12  school bus safety course, the program to evaluate driving skills

 

13  and on-road procedural performance skills of each school bus

 

14  driver, and the minimum threshold for a required safety

 

15  evaluation, which may include, but is not limited to, number of

 

16  points on a driving record, operating impaired or under the

 

17  influence of alcohol, at-fault accidents, or violations of safety

 

18  procedures, for requiring drivers to take the on-road driver

 

19  skills test.

 

20        (4) The advisory committee shall assist the department in

 

21  updating physical examination requirements as necessary to comply

 

22  with changes in federal and state law or rules.

 

23        (5) By August 15, 1991 the advisory committee shall complete

 

24  and present to the state board of education, along with their

 

25  recommendations, a study of the feasibility, safety, and fiscal

 

26  implications of requiring school bus and pupil transportation

 

27  vehicle drivers to take the on-road driver skills test within


 

 1  each 4-year period the driver is assigned to drive a school bus

 

 2  or pupil transportation vehicle.

 

 3        (6) By October 1, 1991 the advisory committee shall complete

 

 4  and present to the legislature, a study of the feasibility,

 

 5  safety, and fiscal impact of an all right hand drop procedure for

 

 6  boarding and discharging passengers from a school bus.

 

 7        (7) By January 1, 1992 the advisory committee shall complete

 

 8  and present to the legislature a study of the feasibility,

 

 9  safety, and fiscal implications of using transit style school

 

10  buses exclusively. The study shall include, but not be limited

 

11  to, an estimate of the current number of transit style school

 

12  buses and other school bus types, the cost differential between

 

13  the types based on passenger capacity, the accident rate for 1989

 

14  on transit and nontransit style school buses, and the estimated

 

15  annual savings if the frequency and severity of personal injuries

 

16  and property damages are reduced by the use of transit style

 

17  school buses.

 

18        Sec. 73. (1) A person who violates this act is  guilty of a

 

19  misdemeanor  responsible for a state civil infraction and shall

 

20  be assessed a fine of not more than $500.00, unless that

 

21  violation is by this act or other law of this state declared to

 

22  be a felony or a civil infraction.

 

23        (2) Unless another penalty is provided in this act or by the

 

24  laws of this state, a person convicted of a misdemeanor for the

 

25  violation of this act shall be punished by a fine of not more

 

26  than $500.00, or by imprisonment for not more than 3 months, or

 

27  both.


 

 1        (2)  (3)  Motor carrier officers appointed by the director

 

 2  of the department of state police shall have all the powers

 

 3  conferred upon peace officers by the general laws of this state

 

 4  to enforce this act and the rules promulgated pursuant to this

 

 5  act.

 

 6        Enacting section 1. Sections 35, 37, 52, and 63 of the pupil

 

 7  transportation act, 1990 PA 187, MCL 257.1835, 257.1837,

 

 8  257.1852, and 257.1863, are repealed.