Stop for School Buses Act
Bill: S.786 | Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd (R-IN)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Stop for School Buses Act
This bill addresses safety measures and programs to prevent the illegal passing of school buses.
Specifically, the Department of Transportation must

To require the Secretary of Transportation to review laws relating to 
  the illegal passing of school buses and to execute a public safety 
messaging campaign relating to illegal passing of school buses, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Stop for School Buses Act''.

SEC. 2. ILLEGAL PASSING OF SCHOOL BUSES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Transportation.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
    (b) Review of Illegal Passing Laws.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) prepare a compilation of illegal passing laws 
                in all States, including--
                            (i) levels of enforcement and penalties and 
                        enforcement issues relating to those laws; and
                            (ii) the impact of those laws on illegal 
                        passing of school buses in each State;
                    (B) review existing State laws that may inhibit 
                effective school bus loading zone countermeasures, 
                including--
                            (i) laws requiring camera visibility of the 
                        face of a driver for enforcement action;
                            (ii) laws that may reduce stop-arm camera 
                        effectiveness;
                            (iii) laws requiring an officer to witness 
                        an event for enforcement actions relating to 
                        the event; and
                            (iv) lack of primary enforcement for 
                        texting-and-driving offenses;
                    (C) evaluate methods used by States to review, 
                document, and report to law enforcement school bus 
                stop-arm violations; and
                    (D) on completion of the compilation under 
                subparagraph (A), prepare recommendations regarding 
                best practices for effective approaches to address 
                illegal passing of school buses.
            (2) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the 
        compilation and recommendations prepared under subparagraphs 
        (A) and (D) of paragraph (1) on the website of the Department.
    (c) Public Safety Messaging Campaign.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
        which the Secretary publishes the compilation and 
        recommendations under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall 
        establish and carry out a public safety messaging campaign for 
        distribution to States, divisions of motor vehicles, schools, 
        and other public organizations to highlight the dangers of the 
        illegal passing of school buses, including providing to 
        students and the public information relating to safe loading 
        and unloading of school buses.
            (2) Consultation.--In developing materials for the campaign 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
                    (A) public and private school bus industry 
                representatives; and
                    (B) States.
            (3) Updates.--The Secretary shall periodically update 
        materials for the campaign under paragraph (1).
    (d) Review of Technologies.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review and evaluate 
        the effectiveness of various technologies to enhance school bus 
        safety, including--
                    (A) cameras;
                    (B) audible warning systems;
                    (C) enhanced lighting; and
                    (D) other technological solutions.
            (2) Content.--The review and evaluation under paragraph 
        (1)--
                    (A) shall include an evaluation of, as applicable--
                            (i) the costs of new equipment;
                            (ii) potential impacts on overall school 
                        bus ridership;
                            (iii) advanced technologies surrounding 
                        loading zone safety;
                            (iv) motion-activated detection systems 
                        that are capable of--
                                    (I) detecting pedestrians, 
                                bicyclists, and other road users 
                                located near the exterior of a school 
                                bus; and
                                    (II) alerting the operator of a 
                                school bus of the road users described 
                                in subclause (I); and
                            (v) school bus lighting systems, to ensure 
                        clear communication to surrounding drivers 
                        regarding appropriate actions; and
                    (B) may include other technological solutions that 
                enhance school bus safety.
            (3) Consultation.--In conducting the review under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
                    (A) manufacturers of school buses or similar 
                vehicles;
                    (B) manufacturers of various technologies; and
                    (C) school bus industry representatives.
            (4) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the findings 
        of the review under paragraph (1) on the website of the 
        Department.
    (e) Review of Driver Education Materials.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) review driver education materials across all 
                States to determine whether and the method by which 
                illegal passing of school buses is addressed in--
                            (i) driver education manuals;
                            (ii) noncommercial driver's license 
                        testing;
                            (iii) road tests; and
                            (iv) any other driver education materials; 
                        and
                    (B) provide to Congress recommendations regarding 
                the means by which States can improve education 
                regarding illegal passing of school buses, particularly 
                with respect to new drivers.
            (2) Consultation.--In conducting the review under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
                    (A) school bus industry representatives;
                    (B) States;
                    (C) motor vehicle administrators; and
                    (D) other appropriate motor vehicle experts.
            (3) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the findings 
        of the review under paragraph (1) on the website of the 
        Department.
    (f) Review of Other Safety Issues.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) conduct research relating to the connections 
                between illegal passing of school buses and other 
                safety issues, including--
                            (i) distracted driving;
                            (ii) morning darkness;
                            (iii) poor visibility;
                            (iv) illumination and reach of vehicle 
                        headlights;
                            (v) speed limits; and
                            (vi) school bus stop locations in rural 
                        areas; and
                    (B) prepare a report describing the findings of the 
                research conducted under subparagraph (A).
            (2) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the report 
        prepared under paragraph (1)(B) on the website of the 
        Department.
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