LRB-2651/1
PEN:mfd:jf
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
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
1An Act to amend 343.12 (2) (a), 343.12 (3) and 347.25 (2) of the statutes;
2relating to: eligibility requirements for certain operators of school buses and
3requiring 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
1Section
1. 343.12 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB180,2,32
343.12
(2) (a) Subject to sub. (3), is at least 18 years
of age and
has not
more
3than attained the age of 70 years
of age.
AB180, s. 2
4Section
2. 343.12 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB180,2,105
343.12
(3) The department may issue a school bus endorsement to a person who
6is more than has attained the age of 70 years
of age if the person meets the
7requirements specified in sub. (2) (c) to (f) and (h) before issuance of the endorsement
8and annually takes and passes a physical examination prior to issuance or renewal
9of the endorsement to determine that the person meets the physical standards
10established under sub. (2) (g).
AB180, s. 3
11Section
3. 347.25 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB180,2,1912
347.25
(2) No person may operate a school bus which is painted as provided in
13s. 347.44 unless it is equipped with flashing red signals. In addition to the flashing
14red signals, the school bus
may shall be equipped with a 360-degree flashing white
15strobe light with a flashrate of 60 to 120 per minute. The secretary shall prescribe
16rules for the type, installation, operation and light output brilliance of the signals
17and lights required or permitted under this subsection. No vehicle may be equipped
18with such flashing red signals or flashing red signals and a strobe light unless it also
19is painted as provided in s. 347.44.
AB180,3,3
11
School bus strobe light. The treatment of section 347.25 (2) of the statutes
2first applies to school buses initially registered under section 341.26 (2) (d) or (dm)
3of the statutes on the effective date of this subsection.
AB180,3,6
42
School bus endorsement. The treatment of section 343.12 (2) (a) and (3) of
5the statutes first applies to endorsements issued or renewed on the effective date of
6this subsection.
AB180,3,98
(1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after
9publication.
