Relating to school bus equipment standards, requirements, and funding, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to school bus equipment standards and requirements.373 requires every school bus except private passenger vehicles used as school buses to be constructed and equipped to meet safety standards prescribed in rules adopted by the state board of education. The bill requires a new school bus ordered for purchase by a school district on or after the effective date of this bill to be equipped with a stop arm camera mounted to the school bus stop arm and requires existing school buses to be equipped with stop arm cameras mounted to the school bus stop arm within two years following the effective date of the bill. 8 enumerates the powers and duties of the department of education relating to the transportation of children, including aiding in the enforcement of the motor vehicle laws relating to the transportation of school children and including prescribing uniform standards and regulations for safety in construction of school transportation equipment. The bill requires the standards established by the department of education relating to the standard of safety in construction of school transportation equipment to conform to the stop arm camera requirements established in the bill.3.2, or from revenues from the secure an advanced vision for education fund under Code chapter 423F.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.2 or from the secure an advanced vision for education fund under Code chapter 423F to comply with the stop arm camera requirements in the bill. The bill takes effect upon enactment.