Section 2 clarifies that the requirement that students in classroom driver's training must learn rules regarding driving near a school bus, applies only to students in grades 9 and 10 who are taking driver's training. Certification to superintendents of compliance with this requirement must be made only upon request of the superintendent, and does not have to be done annually.

Section 3 concerns calculation of school transportation cost allocation, and allows districts to use actual costs for certain reports.

Section 4 conforms definitions of type A and type C school buses to new national standards and defines "multifunctional school activity bus."

Section 5 defines "cellular phone" for purposes of the traffic regulations chapter.

Section 6 prohibits a school bus driver from operating a school bus while operating a cellular phone for personal reasons when the vehicle is in motion.

Section 7 requires that all school buses and Head Start buses (not just those manufactured after 1994) must have driver seat belts, and the drivers must use them.

Section 8 conforms the state's school bus equipment standards to the 2005 (instead of 2000) National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures.

Section 9 applies new school bus standards to buses manufactured after 2007.

Section 10 raises the minimum amperage of school bus generators and alternators to 130 amperes.

Section 11 clarifies that beginning January 1, 2008, all type A, B, C, and D buses (current requirement applies to "all buses") must display a sign on the rear of the bus that states "Unlawful to pass when red lights are flashing."

Section 12 requires, as of January 1, 2008, all school bus seats to have a minimum cushion depth of 15 inches and a seat back height of at least 20 inches above the seating reference point.

Section 13 allows a holder of a class D driver's license to operate, without a school bus endorsement, a multifunctional school activity bus under certain conditions, and increases from 10,000 pounds to 14,500 pounds the maximum weight limit for a Type A school bus that may be driven without a school bus endorsement.

Section 14 clarifies that a class D license holder without a school bus endorsement may drive a multifunctional school activity bus. A driver without a school bus endorsement who drives a type A school bus may not use the eight-light system. The section limits the requirement that operators must be trained in proper use of child safety restraints to situations where child safety restraints are used by the passengers.

Section 15 allows a school bus driver to receive at least eight hours of school bus in-service training as an alternative to being assessed for bus driver competencies.

Section 16 authorizes the Commissioner of Public Safety authority to amend and adopt rules under the good cause exemption to rulemaking procedures. The rules, along with necessary changes, are listed.

Section 17 repeals, effective January 1, 2008:

Provision allowing use of an oil filtration system instead of an oil filter;

Requirement of a minimum of two crossover mirrors on each school bus;

Exclusion in calculating overall width limit of mirrors, mirror brackets and stop arm; and

Provision allowing an automatic recycling interrupt switch to temporarily disable the crossing control arm.

BB/KB:rer

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