Articles/News - School Bus Regulations

Displaying 61  -  80  of  343
Ind. bill aims to ban bus fees
February 1, 2012
Students and parents could not be charged a fee for transportation to and from school, under legislation that passed out of the Indiana House. The issue of school bus fees has been a source of contention in the state in recent years.
Iowa governor supports stricter illegal bus passing penalties
January 25, 2012
Loved ones of Kadyn Halverson, who was killed by a pickup truck as she was walking to board her school bus, have been lobbying legislators to pass a bill on the subject. Gov. Terry Branstad has asked the state departments of public safety, education and transportation to work with lawmakers to craft the legislation.
Bill would cut Calif. district funding to restore transportation money
January 24, 2012
Senate Bill 81 would replace the recent $248 million reduction in funding for home-to-school transportation with an across-the-board reduction to all districts equal to about $42 per student. Officials say this would shift the budget burden to suburban districts that don't offer much bus service.
School bus ad bill passes Ky. House
January 19, 2012
Sponsor Rep. Terry Mills calls it “a simple bill with the sole intent of generating revenue for local school districts.” But some legislators have raised concerns about safety risks and the potential for school-inappropriate ad content.
Ky. school bus ad bill passes committee
January 11, 2012
The state Legislature’s House Education Committee approves House Bill 30, which would allow school boards to sell advertising space on school buses, and give them the authority to decide on the ads’ content. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
Committee narrowly passes Fla. bus ad bill
January 10, 2012
The Senate Prekindergarten-12 Committee passes SB 344 with a 4-2 vote. The bill would have died, but a critic votes for it so that the bill's sponsor can make changes to it.
New Ill. law targets bus driver drug, alcohol testing
December 28, 2011
Under legislation that will take effect Jan. 1, school bus operations can test drivers for alcohol or drugs if the driver is suspected of using such substances. If a driver refuses to submit to a test or fails it, the law requires the driver's school bus permit to be suspended for three years.
$248M slashed for Calif. school transportation
December 15, 2011
Gov. Jerry Brown announces the cut on Tuesday as part of nearly $1 billion in mid-year budget reductions to statewide programs. Officials speak out upon hearing the news, including Mike Rea of the California Association of School Transportation Officials, who says the association will continue to work on a “legislative fix” that would move the transportation cut to an across-the-board revenue limit cut for school districts.
NTSB calls for nationwide ban on driver use of electronics
December 13, 2011
The recommendation to all 50 states and the District of Columbia is to outlaw the non-emergency use of portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. Following its investigation of the 2010 truck-school bus crash in Gray Summit, Mo., the agency also makes recommendations on school bus evacuations, inspections and driver training.
$89M cut to Ill. school transportation stands
December 8, 2011
The Illinois General Assembly fails to restore the funds, cut by Gov. Pat Quinn, in an extended veto session last week. But state pupil transportation director Cinda Meneghetti tells SBF that salaries were restored for personnel at Regional Offices of Education, which perform services including school bus driver training.
Calif. groups fight proposed $248M cut to school transportation
December 8, 2011
The California Association of School Transportation Officials partners with education groups in contacting legislators to urge them to repeal the cut and inform them of the negative impact it would have. Mike Rea, government relations chairperson for the association, discusses these efforts with SBF.
R.I. school bus ad bill to be reintroduced
December 6, 2011
Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. plans to reintroduce legislation that would allow Rhode Island school districts to sell advertising space on the exterior of their school buses. It would also authorize school committees to negotiate with private school bus carriers regarding the content of any ads and the sharing of revenue from them.
Feds ban cell phone use by some bus drivers
November 29, 2011
The new final rule prohibits interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles. A DOT spokesperson confirms to SBF that for school buses, the rule only applies to private operators that transport students on interstate trips.
2011 school bus regulatory highlights
November 15, 2011

August and September were busy months for federal agencies influencing school buses. Here's a wrap-up of major actions announced or in the works.

Wash. governor speaks out on school bus cut reports
November 8, 2011
Following news reports that Gov. Chris Gregoire was considering cutting school bus transportation to help close the state's $2 billion budget shortfall, word comes from her office that she never supported the idea. While school busing was on a list of possible cuts that was sent to Gregoire to review, they did not make her final cut.
School bus officials cite concerns on flammability lobbying
October 28, 2011
Chemical companies are reportedly funding a nonprofit group that is lobbying state legislatures to adopt additional flammability standards for school buses. A new position paper from NASDPTS explains that the standards being proposed aren't suited for pupil transportation — and the industry's own national specifications are actually more stringent.
Wash. law could help crack down on illegal bus passing
October 19, 2011
The law allows school districts to voluntarily install automated camera systems on school buses to identify vehicles passing the buses when students are boarding or disembarking. State director of pupil transportation Allan Jones believes the law presents a “great opportunity to get the message out about the importance of stopping for buses.” Brennor Beck, a school bus driver who inspired the law, also shares his thoughts on the issue with SBF.
Ottawa cops crack down on school bus passing
October 18, 2011
Police charge 13 drivers who fail to stop for school buses in a month-long traffic safety initiative, which also targets tailgating.
N.J. extends service life of certain buses to 15 years
September 29, 2011
Under legislation that was recently signed into law, school buses manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2007, and school buses manufactured prior to Jan. 1, 2007, that have been installed with closed crankcase technology can remain in service for 15 years, which is up from 12 years. The law does not apply to transit-style school buses whose gross vehicle weight exceeds 25,000 pounds and Type S school buses.
NAPT News & Views — The federal fuel economy mandate
September 19, 2011

President Obama recently announced he was ordering the creation of a new national policy that would result in less greenhouse gas pollution from medium- and heavy-duty trucks for the first time. It seems to me the linchpin of long-term success here is simple: Companies still have to meet customer demands at an affordable price.

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