LRBs0065/1
BAB:kjf:jf
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1,
TO 2007 ASSEMBLY BILL 203
May 2, 2007 - Offered by Representative Sheridan.
AB203-ASA1,1,3
1An Act to create 347.447 of the statutes;
relating to: electronic seat check
2reminders on school buses, granting rule-making authority, and providing a
3penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, school buses must be painted yellow and black and must
have the words "SCHOOL BUS" in black letters at least eight inches high written
on the front and back of the bus. A school bus painted in this manner may not be
operated unless it is equipped with flashing red signals and with a 360-degree
flashing white strobe light. Current law also allows the Department of
Transportation (DOT) to prescribe rules requiring additional equipment for school
buses.
This substitute amendment requires any school bus that is painted yellow and
black to be equipped with an electronic seat check reminder system that will require
the school bus driver to walk to the rear of the bus past each seat to check for
passengers remaining in the bus and deactivate the system or an alarm will sound
if the driver attempts to exit the bus. The substitute amendment also requires DOT
to prescribe rules for the specifications, installation, and operation of these electronic
seat check reminder systems. Any person who operates a school bus that is not
equipped with the required electronic seat check reminder may be required to forfeit
not less than $10 nor more than $200.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB203-ASA1,2,6
2347.447 Electronic seat check reminders for school buses. (1) No person
3may operate a school bus manufactured on or after the effective date of this
4subsection .... [revisor inserts date], that is painted as provided in s. 347.44 unless
5it is equipped with an electronic seat check reminder system that does all of the
6following:
AB203-ASA1,2,87
(a) Requires the driver to walk to the back of the bus and check for any
8passengers remaining on the bus.
AB203-ASA1,2,109
(b) Sounds an alarm if the driver attempts to exit the school bus without
10walking past the last seat to the rear of the bus and deactivating the system.
AB203-ASA1,2,12
11(2) The secretary shall prescribe rules for the specifications, installation, and
12operation of electronic seat check reminders required under this section.
AB203-ASA1, s. 2
13Section
2.
Effective dates. This act takes effect on the first day of the 2nd
14month beginning after publication, except as follows:
AB203-ASA1,2,1615
(1)
The treatment of section 347.447 (2) of the statutes takes effect on the day
16after publication.
