The effective date of the repeal and reenactment of the statute sections affected by this bill is July 1, 1998. Supporters say that school bus safety arms will save lives. The purpose of making them mandatory is to achieve uniformity, because buses are often used on routes other than their usual assignment and to take students to events where crossing conditions may be less than ideal. When safety equipment is made optional, there will always be some districts that maintain they cannot afford it. The arms are effective in preventing even small children from darting into the driver's blind spot.
Liability is also a consideration.
Offering a remedy to a known defect forestalls litigation. There was no opposition voiced to the committee.