Bill Text: IN HB1403 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Lap and shoulder safety belts on school buses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-22 - First reading: referred to Committee on Education [HB1403 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2013-HB1403-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 9-13-2; IC 9-19; IC 20-20-40; IC 20-27.
Synopsis: Lap and shoulder safety belts on school buses. Provides that
a school bus or special purpose bus: (1) placed into operation after June
30, 2013, that is used to transport elementary school or high school
students must be equipped with a 3-point lap and shoulder safety belt
(safety belt) at each seating location; and (2) after June 30, 2018, must
be equipped with a safety belt at each seating location. Requires the
state school bus committee to adopt rules for the design, installation,
and use of safety belt systems that must be installed in school buses and
special purpose buses. Provides for an exception to the laws concerning
other types of passenger restraint systems. Requires each occupant of
a school bus or special purpose bus that has a safety belt to have the
safety belt properly fastened about the occupant's body at all times
when the bus is in motion. Establishes the safety belt revolving loan
fund (fund). Requires the department of education to establish a
revolving loan program to provide loans from the fund to school
corporations to assist school corporations in paying expenses necessary
to comply with requirements concerning safety belts on school buses
and special purpose buses. Appropriates $10,000,000 to the fund from
the state general fund. Makes conforming amendments.
Effective: July 1, 2013.
January 22, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
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A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education and to make an appropriation.
(1) bus;
(2) hack;
(3) conveyance;
(4) commercial motor vehicle; or
(5) motor vehicle;
used to transport preschool, elementary, or secondary school children to and from school and to and from school athletic games or contests or other school functions. The term does not include a privately owned automobile with a capacity of not more than five (5) passengers that is
used for the purpose of transporting school children to and from school.
(b) "School bus", for purposes of IC 9-21, means a motor vehicle
owned by a public or governmental agency and operated for the
transportation of children to or from school, including project
headstart, or privately owned and operated for compensation for the
transportation of children to and from school, including project
headstart.
(c) "School bus", for purposes of IC 9-19-11-1(1), means a motor
vehicle:
(1) that meets the federal school bus safety requirements under 49
U.S.C. 30125; or
(2) that meets the federal school bus safety requirements under 49
U.S.C. 30125 except the:
(A) stop signal arm required under federal motor vehicle
safety standard (FMVSS) no. 131; and
(B) flashing lamps required under federal motor vehicle safety
standard (FMVSS) no. 108.
(d) "School bus", for purposes of IC 9-19, except as provided in
subsection (c), means a:
(1) bus;
(2) hack;
(3) conveyance;
(4) commercial motor vehicle; or
(5) motor vehicle;
used to transport elementary school (as defined in IC 20-18-2-4) or
high school (as defined in IC 20-18-2-7) students, or students in any
combination of grades included in IC 20-18-2-4 and IC 20-18-2-7,
to and from school and to and from school athletic games or
contests or other school functions. The term does not include a
privately owned automobile with a capacity of not more than five
(5) passengers that is used for the purpose of transporting school
children to and from school.
(1) that is designed and constructed for the accommodation of more than ten (10) passengers;
(2) that:
(A) meets the federal school bus safety requirements under 49 U.S.C. 30125 except the:
(i) stop signal arm required under federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) no. 131; and
(ii) flashing lamps required under federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) no. 108;
(B) when owned by a school corporation and used to transport students, complies with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations as prescribed by the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as set forth in 49 CFR Chapter III Subchapter B; or
(C) when owned by a school corporation and used to transport students, is a motor coach type bus with a capacity of at least thirty (30) passengers and a gross vehicle weight rating greater than twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds; and
(3) that is used by a school corporation for transportation purposes appropriate under IC 20-27-9-5.
(b) "Special purpose bus", for purposes of IC 9-19, means a motor vehicle:
(1) that is designed and constructed for the accommodation of more than ten (10) passengers;
(2) that:
(A) meets the federal school bus safety requirements under 49 U.S.C. 30125 except the:
(i) stop signal arm required under federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) no. 131; and
(ii) flashing lamps required under federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) no. 108;
(B) when used to transport students, complies with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations as prescribed by the United States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as set forth in 49 CFR Chapter III Subchapter B; or
(C) when used to transport students, is a motor coach type bus with a capacity of at least thirty (30) passengers and a gross vehicle weight rating greater than twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds; and
(3) that is used by a school corporation or a nonpublic school for transportation purposes.
a motor vehicle who meets any of the following conditions:
(1) For medical reasons should not wear safety belts, provided the
occupant has written documentation of the medical reasons from
a physician.
(2) Is a child required to be restrained by a child restraint system
under IC 9-19-11 or a lap and shoulder safety belt under
IC 9-19-13.
(3) Is traveling in a commercial or a United States Postal Service
vehicle that makes frequent stops for the purpose of pickup or
delivery of goods or services.
(4) Is a rural carrier of the United States Postal Service and is
operating a vehicle while serving a rural postal route.
(5) Is a newspaper motor route carrier or newspaper bundle hauler
who stops to make deliveries from a vehicle.
(6) Is a driver examiner designated and appointed under
IC 9-14-2-3 and is conducting an examination of an applicant for
a permit or license under IC 9-24-10.
(7) Is an occupant of a farm truck being used on a farm in
connection with agricultural pursuits that are usual and normal to
the farming operation, as set forth in IC 9-29-5-13(b)(2).
(8) Is an occupant of a motor vehicle participating in a parade.
(9) Is an occupant of the living quarters area of a recreational
vehicle.
(10) Is an occupant of the treatment area of an ambulance (as
defined in IC 16-18-2-13).
(11) Is an occupant of the sleeping area of a tractor.
(12) Is an occupant other than the operator of a vehicle described
in IC 9-20-11-1(1).
(13) Is an occupant other than the operator of a truck on a
construction site.
(14) Is a passenger other than the operator in a cab of a Class A
recovery vehicle or a Class B recovery vehicle who is being
transported in the cab because the motor vehicle of the passenger
is being towed by the recovery vehicle.
(15) Is an occupant other than the operator of a motor vehicle
being used by a public utility in an emergency as set forth in
IC 9-20-6-5.
(1) A school bus or a special purpose bus.
(2) A taxicab.
(3) An ambulance.
(4) A public passenger bus.
(5) A motor vehicle having a seating capacity greater than nine (9) individuals that is owned or leased and operated by a religious or not-for-profit youth organization.
(6) An antique motor vehicle.
(7) A motorcycle.
(8) A motor vehicle that is owned or leased by a governmental unit and is being used in the performance of official law enforcement duties.
(9) A motor vehicle that is being used in an emergency.
(10) A motor vehicle that is funeral equipment used in the operation of funeral services when used in:
(A) a funeral procession;
(B) the return trip to a funeral home (as defined in IC 25-15-2-15); or
(C) both the funeral procession and return trip.
(b) After June 30, 2018, a school bus or special purpose bus that is used to transport elementary school (as defined in IC 20-18-2-4) or high school (as defined in IC 20-18-2-7) students, or students in any combination of grades included in IC 20-18-2-4 and IC 20-18-2-7, must be equipped with a 3-point lap and shoulder safety belt at each seating location. The safety belt installation and safety belt and anchor must meet the specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
(c) A school corporation or a nonpublic school that violates subsection (a) or (b) commits a Class C infraction.
purpose bus that has a 3-point lap and shoulder safety belt
installed at each seating location in accordance with section 3.5 of
this chapter shall have the lap and shoulder safety belt properly
fastened about the occupant's body at all times when the bus is in
motion.
(b) A school corporation, nonpublic school, or owner of a school
bus or special purpose bus, including a school bus or special
purpose bus operated under a fleet or transportation contract, that
suffers, authorizes, or permits a violation of subsection (a) commits
a Class C infraction.
Chapter 40. Safety Belt Revolving Loan Fund
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the safety belt revolving loan fund.
Sec. 2. (a) The safety belt revolving loan fund is established for the purposes of this chapter. The department shall administer the fund.
(b) The department shall pay the expenses of administering the fund.
(c) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
(d) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.
(e) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes of this chapter.
Sec. 3. (a) The department shall establish a revolving loan program to provide loans from the fund to school corporations to assist school corporations in paying expenses necessary to comply with the requirements under IC 9-19-13-3.5 concerning safety belts on school buses and special purpose buses.
(b) The department shall establish the following:
(1) Standards of eligibility.
(2) The maximum amount of a loan that may be awarded to a school corporation.
(3) Application procedures.
(4) Any local matching funds that are required.
(5) The interest rate, duration, repayment schedule, and other terms and conditions of a loan.
(6) Any other provisions necessary to administer the loan program.
(c) The department shall deposit repayments of principal and interest on loans in the fund to increase the amount that is available for new loans.
Sec. 4. A school corporation may use any source of revenue to repay a loan under this chapter, including money in the school corporation's school bus replacement fund, transportation fund, or capital projects fund.
Sec. 5. If a school corporation fails to make any repayments of a loan from the fund, the auditor of state shall withhold the repayment amount from any other money payable by the state to the school corporation. The amount withheld shall be transferred to the fund to the credit of the school corporation.
(1) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing standards for the construction of school buses and special purpose buses, including minimum standards for the construction of school buses and special purpose buses necessary to be issued a:
(A) valid certificate of inspection decal; and
(B) temporary certificate of inspection decal described in IC 20-27-7-10.
(2) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing standards for the equipment of school buses and special purpose buses, including minimum standards for the equipment of school buses and special purpose buses necessary to be issued a:
(A) valid certificate of inspection decal; and
(B) temporary certificate of inspection decal described in IC 20-27-7-10.
(3) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 specifying the minimum standards that must be met to avoid the issuance of an out-of-service certificate of inspection decal.
(4) The committee may provide for the inspection of all school buses and special purpose buses, new or old, that are offered for sale, lease, or contract.
(5) The committee may provide for the annual inspection of all school buses and special purpose buses and the issuance of certificate of inspection decals.
(6) The committee may maintain an approved list of school buses and special purpose buses that have passed inspection tests under
subdivision (4) or (5).
(7) The committee may, subject to approval by the state board of
accounts, prescribe standard forms for school bus driver contracts.
(8) The committee may hear appeals brought under
IC 20-27-7-15.
(9) The committee shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 for the
design, installation, and use of 3-point lap and shoulder safety
belt systems that must be installed in all school buses and
special purpose buses that are first placed into operation by
a school corporation after June 30, 2013, or used after June
30, 2018, in accordance with IC 9-19-13-3.5.
(b) The committee shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to set
performance standards and measurements for determining the physical
ability necessary for an individual to be a school bus driver.
(c) The certificate of inspection decals shall be issued to correspond
with each school year. Each certificate of inspection decal expires on
September 30 following the school year in which the certificate of
inspection decal is effective. However, for buses that are described in
IC 20-27-7-7, the certificate of inspection decal expires on a date that
is not later than seven (7) months after the date of the first inspection
for the particular school year.
(1) brakes;
(2) lights (headlamps, tail lamps, brake lights, clearance lights, and turn signals);
(3) steering and suspension;
(4) exhaust systems;
(5) general body condition;
(6) tires; and
(7) after June 30, 2013, 3-point lap and shoulder safety belt systems.
(b) This SECTION expires July 1, 2015.
