[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 786 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 786
To require the Secretary of Transportation to review laws relating to
the illegal passing of school buses and to execute a public safety
messaging campaign relating to illegal passing of school buses, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 17 (legislative day, March 16), 2021
Mr. Young (for himself and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Transportation to review laws relating to
the illegal passing of school buses and to execute a public safety
messaging campaign relating to 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''.
SEC. 2. ILLEGAL PASSING OF SCHOOL BUSES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Transportation.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(b) 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--
(i) levels of enforcement and penalties and
enforcement issues relating to those laws; and
(ii) the impact of those laws on illegal
passing of school buses in each State;
(B) review existing State laws that may inhibit
effective school bus loading zone countermeasures,
including--
(i) laws requiring camera visibility of the
face of a driver for enforcement action;
(ii) laws that may reduce stop-arm camera
effectiveness;
(iii) laws requiring an officer to witness
an event for enforcement actions relating to
the event; and
(iv) lack of primary enforcement for
texting-and-driving offenses;
(C) evaluate methods used by States to review,
document, and report to law enforcement school bus
stop-arm violations; and
(D) on completion of the compilation under
subparagraph (A), prepare recommendations regarding
best practices for effective approaches to address
illegal passing of school buses.
(2) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the
compilation and recommendations prepared under subparagraphs
(A) and (D) of paragraph (1) on the website of the Department.
(c) Public Safety Messaging Campaign.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on
which the Secretary publishes the compilation and
recommendations under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall
establish and carry out a public safety messaging campaign for
distribution to States, divisions of motor vehicles, schools,
and other public organizations to highlight the dangers of the
illegal passing of school buses, including providing to
students and the public information relating to safe loading
and unloading of school buses.
(2) Consultation.--In developing materials for the campaign
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
(A) public and private school bus industry
representatives; and
(B) States.
(3) Updates.--The Secretary shall periodically update
materials for the campaign under paragraph (1).
(d) 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 to enhance school bus
safety, including--
(A) cameras;
(B) audible warning systems;
(C) enhanced lighting; and
(D) other technological solutions.
(2) Content.--The review and evaluation under paragraph
(1)--
(A) shall include an evaluation of, as applicable--
(i) the costs of new equipment;
(ii) potential impacts on overall school
bus ridership;
(iii) advanced technologies surrounding
loading zone safety;
(iv) motion-activated detection systems
that are capable of--
(I) detecting pedestrians,
bicyclists, and other road users
located near the exterior of a school
bus; and
(II) alerting the operator of a
school bus of the road users described
in subclause (I); and
(v) school bus lighting systems, to ensure
clear communication to surrounding drivers
regarding appropriate actions; and
(B) may include other technological solutions that
enhance school bus safety.
(3) Consultation.--In conducting the review under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall consult with--
(A) manufacturers of school buses or similar
vehicles;
(B) manufacturers of various technologies; and
(C) school bus industry representatives.
(4) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the findings
of the review under paragraph (1) on the website of the
Department.
(e) 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 the method by which
illegal passing of school buses is addressed in--
(i) driver education manuals;
(ii) noncommercial driver's license
testing;
(iii) road tests; and
(iv) any other driver education materials;
and
(B) provide to Congress recommendations regarding
the means by which States can improve education
regarding illegal passing of school buses, particularly
with respect to new drivers.
(2) Consultation.--In conducting the review under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall consult with--
(A) school bus industry representatives;
(B) States;
(C) motor vehicle administrators; and
(D) other appropriate motor vehicle experts.
(3) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the findings
of the review under paragraph (1) on the website of the
Department.
(f) Review of Other Safety Issues.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(A) conduct research relating to the connections
between illegal passing of school buses and other
safety issues, including--
(i) distracted driving;
(ii) morning darkness;
(iii) poor visibility;
(iv) illumination and reach of vehicle
headlights;
(v) speed limits; and
(vi) school bus stop locations in rural
areas; and
(B) prepare a report describing the findings of the
research conducted under subparagraph (A).
(2) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the report
prepared under paragraph (1)(B) on the website of the
Department.
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