[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2218 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2218

 To require the Secretary of Transportation to conduct research on and 
   implement certain safety measures and programs to prevent illegal 
            passing of school buses, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2019

 Mrs. Walorski (for herself and Ms. Brownley of California) introduced 
      the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Transportation to conduct research on and 
   implement certain safety measures and programs to prevent illegal 
            passing of school buses, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Stop for School Buses Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SAFETY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Review of Illegal Passing Laws.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) prepare a compilation of illegal passing laws 
                in all States, including levels of enforcement and 
                penalties and enforcement issues with such laws and the 
                impact of such laws on illegal passing of school buses 
                in each State;
                    (B) review existing State laws that may inhibit 
                effective school bus loading zone countermeasures, 
                which may include laws requiring camera visibility of a 
                driver's face for enforcement action, laws that may 
                reduce stop arm camera effectiveness, the need for an 
                officer to witness the event for enforcement, and the 
                lack of primary enforcement for texting and driving;
                    (C) evaluate methods used by States to review, 
                document, and report to law enforcement school bus stop 
                arm violations; and
                    (D) following the completion of the compilation, 
                issue recommendations on best practices on the most-
                effective approaches to address illegal passing of 
                school buses.
            (2) Publication.--The compilation and recommendations shall 
        be made publicly available on the website of the Department.
    (b) Public Safety Messaging Campaign.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall create and execute a 
        public safety messaging campaign including public safety media 
        messages, posters, digital, and other media messages for 
        distribution to States, divisions of motor vehicles, schools, 
        and other public outlets to highlight the importance of the 
        illegal passing school buses, and should include educating 
        students and the public on safe loading and unloading of 
        schools buses.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with public 
        and private school bus industry representatives and States in 
        developing the appropriate messages.
            (3) Update.--The Secretary shall periodically update the 
        materials used in the campaign.
    (c) Review of Technologies.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review and evaluate 
        the effectiveness of various technologies, including cameras, 
        audible warning systems, enhanced lighting, and other 
        technological solutions to enhance school bus safety.
            (2) Content.--The review--
                    (A) shall include an evaluation of the costs of new 
                equipment and the potential impact on overall school 
                bus ridership;
                    (B) shall include an evaluation of advanced 
                technologies surrounding loading zone safety;
                    (C) shall include an evaluation of school bus 
                lighting systems, to ensure clear communication to 
                surrounding drivers on their appropriate action;
                    (D) may include other technological solutions that 
                enhance school bus safety; and
                    (E) may include a pilot program to test the 
                technologies in school bus service.
            (3) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with 
        manufacturers of school bus vehicles, manufacturers of various 
        technologies, and school bus industry representatives in 
        conducting the review.
            (4) Publication.--The Secretary shall make the findings of 
        the review publicly available on the website of the Department.
    (d) Review of Driver Education Materials.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) review driver education materials across all 
                States to determine whether and how illegal passing of 
                school buses is addressed in driver education 
                materials, manuals, non-CDL testing, and road tests; 
                and
                    (B) make recommendations on how States can improve 
                education about illegal passing of school buses, 
                particularly with new drivers.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with school 
        bus industry representatives, States, motor vehicle 
        administrators, and other appropriate motor vehicle experts in 
        the preparation of the review.
            (3) Publication.--The Secretary shall make the findings of 
        the review publicly available on the website of the Department.
    (e) Review of Other Safety Issues.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall research the 
        connections between illegal passing of school buses and other 
        safety issues, including, but not limited to, distracted 
        driving, morning darkness, illumination and reach of vehicle 
        headlights, speed limits, and school bus stop locations in 
        rural areas and create a report containing the findings.
            (2) Publication.--The Secretary shall make the findings of 
        the report publicly available on the website of the Department.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Transportation.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
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