Ohio House Bill No. 3 – School Bus Safety Act
Subject: Analysis of Ohio House Bill No. 3, addressing school bus safety.
Summary:
Ohio House Bill No. 3, designated as the “School Bus Safety Act,” aims to enhance school bus safety through several key provisions, including increased public awareness, a dedicated funding mechanism for safety improvements, and adjustments to penalties for violations of school bus safety laws. The bill amends existing sections of the Revised Code and enacts new sections to achieve these goals.
Key Themes and Provisions:
- School Bus Safety Awareness:
- Establishes August as “School Bus Safety Awareness Month” to promote public awareness of the importance of stopping for school buses loading and unloading passengers. (Sec. 5.501)
- School Bus Safety Fund:
- Creates a “school bus safety fund” in the state treasury. (Sec. 3327.18)
- The fund will be comprised of money appropriated by the General Assembly, as well as criminal fines collected for violations of failing to stop for a school bus.
- The fund will be administered by the director of education and workforce, and used for grants to school districts to improve safety features on buses.
- The fund can also be used to support the Department of Education and Workforce and the Department of Public Safety for public education campaigns surrounding school bus safety.
- School Bus Safety Grants:
- Establishes a grant program administered by the Department of Education and Workforce to provide funding to eligible school districts and educational service centers. (Sec. 3327.19)
- Grants can be used to purchase and install a wide range of “school bus safety features,” including:
- External school bus cameras
- Crossing arms
- Lane departure warning systems
- Electronic stability control
- Lighted crossover mirrors
- Colorado rack test-approved bus frames
- Fully illuminated stop arms and “school bus” signs
- Collision avoidance systems
- LED lights
- Ground wash lights
- Reflective chevrons
- Occupant restraining devices (seatbelts)
- Other new safety features approved by the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Education and Workforce.
- Grant funds can be used to install new features, replace old features, or include safety features on new buses.
- Grant recipients must use the funds for the purchase and installation of safety features and must spend the funds within two years.
- Deputy Registrar Rules and Awareness:
- Requires the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to specify that each deputy registrar and driver examination location shall display a graphic that instructs drivers to stop and yield to a stopped school bus. The Registrar shall create and issue the graphic.
- Requires the registrar of motor vehicles and deputy registrars to provide a summary of requirements of 4511.75(A) and the procedures and penalties of 4511.75(F) at the time of issuing licenses and license plates.
- Includes the process by which an operator of a school bus, in conjunction with someone with first-hand knowledge, reports a motorist violating 4511.75(A).
- Increased Penalties for Passing a Stopped School Bus:
- Increases fines for violating the law regarding passing a stopped school bus.
- First violation fine is “not less than two hundred fifty and not more than one thousand dollars”.
- Second violation fine is “not less than three hundred fifty and not more than two thousand dollars”.
- A violator with no prior offenses can receive a $150 fine if they complete a bus safety course within a time frame specified by the court.
- “A person who is issued a citation for a violation of division (A) of this section is not permitted to enter a written plea of guilty and waive the person’s right to contest the citation in a trial but instead must appear in person in the proper court to answer the charge.”
- A first time violator receives a class six suspension of their license.
- A second time violator receives a class five suspension of their license, as well as a required school bus safety course.
- All fines collected are to be paid into the school bus safety fund.
- Reporting Violations of Passing a Stopped School Bus:
- When a school bus operator believes a motorist has violated the law by passing a stopped school bus, they must report the license plate and a general description of the vehicle and operator to the law enforcement agency. This can be corroborated by any person with first-hand knowledge or by school bus camera equipment.
- School Bus Camera Equipment:
- The department of public safety, with advice from the department of education and workforce, shall adopt rules regarding school bus camera equipment. Such cameras can only record violations of 4511.75 of the Revised Code, and cannot be used for automated enforcement of a violation of 4511.75 of the Revised Code.
- Appropriation:
- Appropriates $25,000,000 in both fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Department of Education and Workforce for school bus safety. (Section 4)
- Up to $100,000 per year can be used for administering the grant program.
- The remainder of the appropriation is for school bus safety grants and public education.
- Directs the Director of Budget and Management to transfer $25,000,000 cash from the General Revenue Fund to the School Bus Safety Fund annually.
Notable Quotes:
- “The month of August is designated as ‘School Bus Safety Awareness Month’ to increase public awareness of the need to properly stop when a stopped school bus is loading and unloading passengers.” (Sec. 5.501)
- “‘Eligible applicant’ means a board of education of a city school district, a local school district, an exempted village school district, a cooperative education school district, or a joint vocational school district, or a governing board of an educational service center.” (Sec. 3327.19(A)(1))
- “‘School bus safety feature’ means any of the following: (a) External school bus cameras; (b) Crossing arms; (c) Lane departure warning systems; (d) Electronic stability control; (e) Lighted crossover mirrors; (f) Colorado rack test-approved bus frames; (g) Fully illuminated stop arms located at the front and rear of a school bus; (h) Fully illuminated ‘school bus’ signs; (i) Collision avoidance systems; (j) All light-emitting diode lights; (k) Ground wash lights; (l) Reflective chevron; (m) Occupant restraining devices that conform to the school bus seat belt requirements of 49 C.F.R. 571; (n) Additional safety features that become available through advancements in technology and that are approved by the department of public safety and the department of education and workforce.” (Sec. 3327.19(A)(2))
- “A law enforcement agency shall not issue a citation in accordance with this section based solely on an image, images, or video captured by a camera installed pursuant to section 4511.76 of the Revised Code, but such image, images, or video may corroborate other evidence and a report made in accordance with this section.” (Sec. 4511.751(C)(4))
- “Any fine collected under this section shall be paid to the school bus safety fund created in section 3327.18 of the Revised Code and shall be used for the purposes established under that section.” (Sec. 4511.75(G))
Potential Impacts and Considerations:
- Increased Safety: The bill’s focus on funding safety improvements and raising awareness could lead to a reduction in accidents involving school buses and an increase in safety for students.
- Financial Implications: The $25 million annual appropriation will have a significant impact on the state budget.
- Enforcement Challenges: The bill relies on reporting and investigation of violations, which may present enforcement challenges.
- Technological Advancements: The inclusion of “additional safety features that become available through advancements in technology” allows for future innovations to be incorporated.
- Equity: Grant distribution procedures should be carefully considered to ensure equitable access to funding for all school districts, especially those with limited resources.
Conclusion:
Ohio House Bill No. 3 represents a comprehensive effort to improve school bus safety in Ohio. By combining public awareness campaigns, dedicated funding for safety improvements, and stricter penalties for violations, the bill aims to create a safer environment for students traveling to and from school.