AB180: Bill Text

LRB-2651/1

PEN:mfd:jf

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 180

March 13, 1997 - Introduced by Representative Plouff, cosponsored by Senator Clausing, by request of Duane Thompson. Referred to Committee on Highways and Transportation.

AB180,1,3 An Act to amend 343.12 (2) (a), 343.12 (3) and 347.25 (2) of the statutes; relating to: eligibility requirements for certain operators of school buses and requiring strobe lights on school buses.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) is required to issue an endorsement authorizing the operation of a school bus (school bus endorsement) to any applicant for the endorsement who is at least 18 years of age but younger than 71 years of age and who meets the stated requirements, including passing a physical examination. A school bus endorsement is valid for the duration of the person's operator's license. DOT may, but is not required to, issue a school bus endorsement to any person at least 71 years of age who annually takes and passes a physical examination and satisfies the requirements required of operators younger than 71 years of age.

This bill lowers the age at which an annual physical examination is first required for a school bus endorsement from 71 to 70 years of age.

Also under current law, any yellow and black school bus may be equipped with a flashing white strobe light mounted on the centerline of the bus roof not less than 3 feet from the front or rear of the bus. This bill makes white strobe lights required equipment on any school bus first put into service on or after the effective date of this bill.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB180, s. 1 Section 1. 343.12 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB180,2,3 343.12 (2) (a) Subject to sub. (3), is at least 18 years of age and has not more than attained the age of 70 years of age.

AB180, s. 2 Section 2. 343.12 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB180,2,10 343.12 (3) The department may issue a school bus endorsement to a person who is more than has attained the age of 70 years of age if the person meets the requirements specified in sub. (2) (c) to (f) and (h) before issuance of the endorsement and annually takes and passes a physical examination prior to issuance or renewal of the endorsement to determine that the person meets the physical standards established under sub. (2) (g).

AB180, s. 3 Section 3. 347.25 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB180,2,19 347.25 (2) No person may operate a school bus which is painted as provided in s. 347.44 unless it is equipped with flashing red signals. In addition to the flashing red signals, the school bus may shall be equipped with a 360-degree flashing white strobe light with a flashrate of 60 to 120 per minute. The secretary shall prescribe rules for the type, installation, operation and light output brilliance of the signals and lights required or permitted under this subsection. No vehicle may be equipped with such flashing red signals or flashing red signals and a strobe light unless it also is painted as provided in s. 347.44.

AB180, s. 4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

AB180,3,3 1 School bus strobe light. The treatment of section 347.25 (2) of the statutes first applies to school buses initially registered under section 341.26 (2) (d) or (dm) of the statutes on the effective date of this subsection.

AB180,3,6 2 School bus endorsement. The treatment of section 343.12 (2) (a) and (3) of the statutes first applies to endorsements issued or renewed on the effective date of this subsection.

AB180, s. 5 Section 5. Effective date.

AB180,3,9 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after publication.

AB180,3,10 (End)