113 HR 4595 IH: School Bus Safety Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-05-07
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the School Bus Safety Act
.
<enum>I</enum><header>Kadyn’s Act</header>
<section id="H3A1911EB16014563A83B512B09C6F955" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as <short-title></short-title><quote>Kadyn’s Act</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H3CE531E40B5542AAAEE955468176F7FF"><enum>102.</enum><header>Withholding apportionments for noncompliance with school bus passings</header>
<subsection id="H365D583124794AE3B9373B1731554685"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Withholding apportionments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/23/1">Chapter 1</external-xref> of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H815752BB9235441E9620ABED7876F49A" style="USC">
<section id="H31CAE4A9EB1F40A3BA15769D9D4721C0"><enum>171.</enum><header>Withholding apportionments for noncompliance with school bus passings</header>
<subsection id="HAE03C61D6C1C40B29E5191185A226018"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Withholding of apportionments for noncompliance</header>
<paragraph id="H9EC7B8BC2C4546039FE79A4FAD85151D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Withholding</header><text>The Secretary shall withhold 10 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to any State under
paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of section 104(b) on October 1, 2015, and on
each October 1 thereafter if the State does not meet the requirements of
paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6013656CA4A74150B14788F3B6AFFADE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>A State meets the requirements of this paragraph if the State has enacted and is enforcing a law
that imposes the following penalties to a motorist who is found guilty of
illegally passing a stopped school bus:</text>
<subparagraph id="H90107A3928264F3ABED8AD969AAD691E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>First offense</header><text>For a first offense, a fine of not less than $250 with the possibility of jail time and license
suspension.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6732538CA1344472A29243FABE59599F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Second offense within a 5-year period of a first offense</header><text>For a second offense within a 5-year period of a first offense, a fine of not less than $315 with
the possibility of jail time and license suspension.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H417DF22EA7B3400CBCCD4CCC8BC3F4AE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Period of availability of apportioned funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds withheld after the date specified in subsection (a)(1) from apportionments to any State shall
not be available for apportionment to that State and such funds will
lapse.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H2592294AC9A54170B7935561153A8BF4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The analysis for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/23/1">chapter 1</external-xref> of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5C3CAAA6EC43431C81D9656F4C3751DC" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">171. Withholding apportionments for noncompliance with school bus passings</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Grants for motion-activated detection system on school buses</header>
<section id="H2FB99EB38C804E608FCE2475230E8D73"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as <quote><short-title>Grants for Motion-Activated Detection System on School Buses Act</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HC8055E25E6B44E279C69C14C52A5F963"><enum>202.</enum><header>Grants for motion-activated detection system on school buses</header>
<subsection id="HF68EC2830FF0488D97F371B9B6507AFA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Transportation may provide grants to States to equip school buses with
motion-activated detection system.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9A4726323CF542E195B6F51B1930E381"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application</header><text>In order to qualify for a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
and assurances as the Secretary may require, including—</text>
<paragraph id="HFADB755DFF32425FA48A861105E865C6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an assurance that the State will use grant funds to purchase motion-activated detection systems for
school buses; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1C1C9882019C4321A7E91F2973C21655"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an assurance that the State is in compliance with sections <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/23/171">171</external-xref> and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/23/172">172</external-xref> of title 23, United States
Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1466D91AF8CC4719AB94A41474DBCCD5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grant amounts</header><text>Before awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that each grant award is of
sufficient size and scope to carry out the requirements of this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7691CD61ADC342DCBFDDDC4D5E255BF1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>In order to fund grant awards under this section, the Secretary shall use funds not apportioned
pursuant to sections <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/23/171">171</external-xref> and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/23/172">172</external-xref> of title 23, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H15AA4BBBE9874797BAAC1D2C7E9FD368"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the State shall submit a report to
the Secretary regarding the effectiveness of the motion-activated
detection system in any local educational agency using grant funds under
this section, including—</text>
<paragraph id="H6D73BF8C01D44480AFB1EC30657B087F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>whether or not the detection system has prevented children from being hit by a school bus; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8DAD17A594E141A7985B494B5A576494"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a cost benefit analysis of using these detection systems on school buses.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCF6D17EC983B4850A16E934AB91DEC7F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For purposes of this Act, the term <quote>motion-activated detection system</quote> means a sensor system that uses radio signals or radar waves to detect a moving target near the
front, rear, and sides of a school bus. The system sounds an alarm to
alert the driver when a moving target is detected within the specified
danger zones of the bus.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>School bus driver safety enforcement</header>
<section id="HCF5E3C69207D4FF6A0FA92F85C9EF7AC"><enum>301.</enum><header>Withholding for noncompliance of background checks of school bus drivers</header>
<subsection id="HF1DFD62200D540FEABF176BD21EFD2BB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Withholding apportionments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/23/1">Chapter 1</external-xref> of title 23, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3F3037FA54C642088612AF3AD338A110" style="USC">
<section id="H10BF81A91B5B4FFF8578031FDC29C320"><enum>172.</enum><header>Withholding apportionments for noncompliance of background checks of school bus drivers</header>
<subsection id="HC63F06EF758D4C10A012DAC1D5686382"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Withholding</header><text>The Secretary shall withhold 10 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to any State under
paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of section 104(b) on October 1, 2015, and on
each October 1 thereafter if the State does not meet the requirements of
paragraph (2).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1A7991A903DF4323A4FD7BC0FDECF65B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State meets the requirements of this paragraph if the State has enacted a law that requires the
employer to conduct a background check before hiring a school bus driver.
Such background check shall include—</text>
<paragraph id="H476083D8140D46EAB1AF09BB342909CD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a review of State and local court information on arrests, charges, convictions;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H78528028112E4CE7A653FAF5A3118701"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a review of any sex offender registry; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8F81DE1AE0EB450599EB1ED22C14D772"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a review of any child abuse or dependent adult abuse registry.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE328A8ED05CB450EAE7885F3020E93B8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Period of availability of apportioned funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds withheld after the date specified in subsection (a)(1) from apportionments to any State shall
not be available for apportionment to that State and such funds will
lapse.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H19FD3AACAEFA451A81A290F819742D2A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The analysis for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/23/1">chapter 1</external-xref> of title 23, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H71B6058EADC54A3DB0B9C36DF426A2D3" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">172. Withholding apportionments for noncompliance of background checks of school bus drivers</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>School bus seat belt demonstration program</header>
<section id="H520C98DDCD3348D59402BA6883798789"><enum>401.</enum><header>School bus seat belt demonstration program</header>
<subsection id="H1C346164570342DB93D74EB083E22AEA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Transportation may award grants to States to develop a school bus seat belt
program to purchase type 1 school buses equipped with lap/shoulder seat
belts or equip existing type 1 school buses with lap/shoulder seat belts.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF102E4CCF8BE410EA93BBACA22EA29FF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In order to qualify for a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
and assurances as the Secretary may require, including—</text>
<paragraph id="HB1223688D3234C1293CE68B33105A650"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assurance that the State will use grant funds to purchase type I school buses with lap/shoulder
seat belts or equip existing type 1 school buses with such seat belts;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H416533156AAB41949C28E5F9506C13F9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assurance that the State is in compliance with sections <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/23/171">171</external-xref> and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/23/172">172</external-xref> of title 23, United States
Code; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8040E2EAA18D49049A276090FC9DFFE8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a list of the local educational agencies which the State selects to receive the seat belt equipped
buses, including the reasons why each agency should receive school buses
with seat belts.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H841DA5B4B55E4DB5AF587B3E0523667B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Local educational agency requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The State shall require that any local educational agency that receives grant funds pursuant to
this Act shall develop—</text>
<paragraph id="HAC6857DAC6DF4CF0903E26297DC0EB94"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a plan to ensure that all students riding the school buses with lap/shoulder belts are using them;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H908E92DB1E9D4487AEFDEAAC1AD160A1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an educational program regarding seat belt safety.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEE6033FDFC0343E0A5F271F37BA07213"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Grant amounts</header><text>Before awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that each grant award is of
sufficient size and scope to carry out the requirements of this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9E6060D431B042D89EF990015C753DEE"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>In order to fund grant awards under this section, the Secretary shall use funds not apportioned
pursuant to sections <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/23/171">171</external-xref> and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/23/172">172</external-xref> of title 23, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3600B6C51C7442E3897DE11D0E881F24"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this section, the term <quote>type 1 school bus</quote> means a school bus weighing more than 10,000 pounds.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0BDF850EB9D64F7D830210E839F21C0B"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the State shall submit a report to
the Secretary regarding the effectiveness of the lap/shoulder seat belt
program in any local educational agency using grant funds under this
section, including—</text>
<paragraph id="H92B5DBF3A45C492D97638880AD79FD5D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>student usage of seat belts; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H28F422EBDFC34B8EB967DA7A646B17FF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the impact on school bus seating capacity.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>NHTSA study</header>
<section id="H4EEE57ECC89643EF82CDF2AFA971235A"><enum>501.</enum><header>NHTSA study</header>
<subsection id="H701CF019E80045E98E7AEDB84669F64B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Highway Traffic Safety Board shall conduct a comprehensive study regarding the effects
of illegal passing of school buses.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H94B598E2507A4FEB8C0A6BA26ED03F53"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study and pilot program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The study shall include—</text>
<paragraph id="HF3B3027A57C4496587E1767B5C084E83"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a pilot program demonstrating the effectiveness of additional technologies and equipment on school
buses, including additional front and rear stop arms, driver alert
devices, secondary warning signs and aids to general visibility of buses;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA2DB02FEF40B476B99FE8F1D199482C2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>enforcement schemes, including camera systems and increased fines on preventing, mitigating, and
enforcing against illegal passing of school buses;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0008664B1BF74241B755CDC14CBBE526"><enum>(3)</enum><text>establishment and comparison of baseline performance standards for existing school buses and
operations that can be measured and validated with school buses with
additional equipment, over a set period of time, in a broad geographic
area; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H513B16F998E043C38846164A915B94E0"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consideration of the impact of additional driver training and a targeted public awareness and
education campaign on the prevention, mitigation, and enforcement of
illegal passing of school buses.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB49909F6167F475F91901A6F3C3CF80D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall submit a report to
Congress with the results of the study and make recommendations for
changes to Federal, State, and local laws and regulations to prevent,
mitigate, and better enforce illegal school bus passing laws.</text>
</subsection></section>