Statutory authority: ss. 85.16 and 347.25 (2)
Statute interpreted: s. 347.25 (2)
General Summary of Proposed Rule:
This proposed rulemaking amending ch. Trans 300, relating to school bus equipment standards, will address the installation, operation and light output brilliance of the white strobe light which will be required on all school buses first registered in WI after October 1, 1998. Currently, s. Trans 300.54 (4) advises that the strobe light is an optional piece of equipment for use on school buses. 1997 Wis. Act 117 requires the strobe light as mandatory equipment for all buses first registered on or after October 1, 1998. The current specifications for optional strobe lights will be made applicable to the mandatory strobe lights, and the use of the lights will be required whenever a school bus is in operation on a highway for the purposes specified in s. 340.01 (56) (a) and (am), Stats.
Fiscal Estimate
The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on the liabilities or revenues of any county, city, village, town, vocational, technical and adult education district or sewerage district. The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on state revenues or liabilities. The rule will not impose any fiscal effect on school districts other than that imposed by the amendment of s. 347.26(7), Stats.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
This proposed rule will have no adverse impact on small businesses.
Copies of Proposed Rule
Copies of this proposed rule may be obtained upon request, without cost, by writing to Lt. Sandra Huxtable, Department of Transportation, Division of State Patrol, Room 551, P. O. Box 7912, Madison, WI 53707-7912, or by calling (608) 267-0325. Alternate formats of the proposed rule will be provided to individuals at their request.
Text of Proposed Rule
Under the authority vested in the state of Wisconsin Department of Transportation by ss. 85.16 and 347.25 (2), Stats., the Department of Transportation hereby proposes to amend a rule interpreting s. 347.25 (2), Stats., relating to school bus equipment standards.
SECTION 1. Trans 300.16 (1) is amended to read:
Trans 300.16 (1) Prior to the start of any trip, the driver shall check the condition of the bus, giving particular attention to brakes, tires, lights, emergency equipment, mirrors, windows, and interior cleanliness of the bus. Defects shall be reported in writing to the person in charge of bus maintenance. The driver shall be responsible for the cleanliness of the interior of the bus and shall ensure that the windshield and mirrors are clean before each school bus operation and that the strobe light is actuated whenever the bus is in operation on a highway for purposes specified in s. 340.01 (56) (a) and (am), Stats.
SECTION 2. Trans 300.54 (1) (am) (intro.) and 6. are created to read:
Trans 300.54 (1) (am) Each bus first registered on or after October 1, 1998, shall be equipped with a strobe light which shall conform with the following requirements:
6.The strobe light shall be actuated whenever the bus is in operation on a highway unless the bus is being operated in accordance with s. 346.48 (2) (c), Stats.
SECTION 3. Trans 300.54 (4) (intro.) is repealed.
SECTION 4. Trans 300.54 (4) (a) to (d) are renumbered s. Trans 300.54(1) (am) 1. to 4.
SECTION 5. Trans 300.54 (4) (e) is renumbered s. Trans 300.54 (1) (am) 5. and amended to read:
Trans300.54 (1) (am) 5. The unit shall
may be wired with an independent switch with an indicator light in the driver's compartment showing when the light is in operation.
SECTION 6. Trans 300.54 (4) is created to read:
Trans 300.54 (4) School buses painted as provided in s. 347.44 and registered prior to October 1, 1998, may be equipped with a strobe light meeting the requirements of sub. (1) (am).
Notice of Proposed Rule
Transportation
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the authority of ss. 85.16 (1), 110.075 and 227.10 (1), Stats., and interpreting s. 347.48, Stats., and according to the procedure set forth in s. 227.16 (2) (e), Stats., the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will adopt the following rule amending ch. Trans 305 without public hearing unless, within 30 days after publication of this notice on November 1, 1998, the Department of Transportation is petitioned for a public hearing by 25 natural persons who will be affected by the rule; a municipality which will be affected by the rule; or an association which is representative of a farm, labor, business or professional group which will be affected by the rule.
Contact Person
Questions about this rule and any petition for public hearing may be addressed to:
Lt. Sandra Huxtable
Dept. of Transportation
Division of State Patrol, Room 551
4802 Sheboygan Ave.
P. O. Box 7912
Madison, WI 53707-7912
Telephone (608) 267-0325
Analysis Prepared by the Wis. Dept. of Transportation
Statutory authority: ss. 85.16 (1), 110.075 and 227.10 (1)
Statute interpreted: s. 347.48
General Summary of Proposed Rule:
The proposed rule amends s. Trans 305.27 (3) (a) to clarify that this provision is intended to require that airbags which have been deployed must be replaced so that the vehicle continues to have all restraining devices with which it was originally manufactured. This was the intention of the Department of Transportation when ch. Trans 305 was created, effective March 1, 1996. However, some law enforcement officers and citizens expressed confusion with the present language and, therefore, the Department wishes to amend the rule to give clear notice to vehicle owners of their obligation to replace deployed airbags.
Fiscal Estimate
The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on the liabilities or revenues of any county, city, village, town, school district, technical college district, sewerage district, or any federally-recognized American Indian tribes or bands.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
This proposed rule will have no adverse impact on small businesses.
Copies of Proposed Rule
Copies of the rule may be obtained upon request, without cost, by writing to Frieda Andreas, or by calling (608) 266-6936. Alternate formats of the proposed rule will be provided to individuals at their request.
Text of Proposed Rule
Under the authority vested in the state of Wisconsin Department of Transportation by ss. 85.16(1), 110.075 and 227.10 (1), Stats., the Department of Transportation hereby proposes an order to amend a rule interpreting s. 347.48, Stats., relating to vehicle restraining devices.
SECTION 1. Trans 305.27 (3) (a) is amended to read:
Trans 305.27 (3) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the restraining devices, including air bags, of every motor vehicle shall be maintained in proper working condition and in conformity with this section and s. 347.48, Stats. All required and optional restraining devices, including air bags, shall remain installed or be replaced by like equipment. All airbags that have been deployed shall be replaced with a comparable functioning airbag system.
Notice of Submission of Proposed Rules to the Presiding Officer of each House of the Legislature, Under S. 227.19, Stats.
Please check the Bulletin of Proceedings for further information on a particular rule.
Ch. Comm 67 - Relating to rental unit energy efficiency standards.
Chs. Comm 32 and ILHR 32 - Relating to public employe safety and health.
Ch. ILHR 57, Subch. II - Relating to the exemption of accessibility requirements for certain multilevel multifamily dwelling units.
Financial Institutions--Securities
(CR 98-114):
Chs. DFI-Sec 2, 3 and 5 and ss. DFI-Sec 1.02, 7.07 and 9.01 - Relating to federal covered securities, federal covered advisers and investment adviser representatives.
Chs. NR 191 and 192 - Relating to lake protection grants and lake classification technical assistance grants.
Ch. Trans 29 - Relating to accommodating utility facilities on state-owned railroad corridors.
Chs. Trans 325, 326 and 328 - Relating to:
• motor carrier safety regulations;
• motor carrier safety requirements for transportation of hazardous materials; and
• motor carrier safety requirements for intrastate transportation of hazardous materials.
Administrative Rules Filed With The
Revisor Of Statutes Bureau
The following administrative rules have been filed with the Revisor of Statutes Bureau and are in the process of being published. The date assigned to each rule is the projected effective date. It is possible that the publication of these rules could be delayed. Contact the Revisor of Statutes Bureau at (608) 266-7275 for updated information on the effective dates for the listed rules.
An order creating s. CSB 2.24, relating to adding butorphanol to the classification of controlled substances in schedule IV of ch. 961, Stats., the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Effective 12-01-98.
An order affecting ch. HFS 89, relating to residential care apartment complexes (formerly known as “assisted living facilities”).
Effective 12-01-98.
An order affecting ch. NR 140, relating to groundwater quality standards.
