An Act To Improve Safety and Traffic Efficiency near School Grounds
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0785
Committee Amendment CA_A_H159 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2091-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "~" to H.P. 565, L.D. 785, Bill, "An Act To 
Improve Safety and Traffic Efficiency near School Grounds" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2091-A is enacted to read: 
§2091-A. School crossing guards 
1. Qualifications. A school crossing guard is qualified to direct traffic if the school 
crossing guard: 
A. Is 18 years of age or older; 
B. Is under the control of a local law enforcement agency; 
C, Has completed training approved by the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor 
Standards in controlling traffic on a public way and as described by section 2091, 
subsection 2 to perform any traffic direction duties to which the school crossing 
guard is assigned as prescribed by the local law enforcement agency that has control 
over the school crossing guard; 
D. ls wearing an appropriate unifonn as specified by the local law enforcement 
agency that has control over the school crossing guard; and 
E. Is directing traffic in an intersection with a marked crosswalk on a public way. 
2. Obeying school crossing guards. An operator of a motor vehicle shall obey a 
hand signal or handheld traffic control device of a school crossing guard qualified under 
subsection 1. A violation of this subsection is a traffic infraction. 
3. Assisting pedestrians. This section does not prohibit a school crossing guard 
who does not meet the specifications described in subsection 1 from assisting a pedestrian 
to cross a public way, as long as the school crossing guard does not attempt to do so by 
directing traffic. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. 4 "to H.P. 565, L.D. 785 
4. Restrictions. A school crossing guard may not contradict or override a lighted 
traffic control device or pedestrian control device or cause a pedestrian or motor vehicle 
to violate the provisions of section 2057.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment clarifies that failure to obey a school crossing guard is a traffic 
infraction. The amendment provides that school crossing guards are under the control of 
a local law enforcement agency only and not a school administrative unit. 
The 
amendment specifies that a school crossing guard must complete training approved by the 
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards in order to control traffic on a public 
IO 
way. The amendment also provides that a school crossing guard may direct traffic only 
in an intersection with a marked crosswalk on a public way. Finally, the amendment 
provides that a school crossing guard may not contradict or override a lighted traffic 
control device or pedestrian control device. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/09/17 feac 
LD785 
LR972(02) 
An Act To Improve Safety and Traffic Efficiency near School Grounds 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A, { H-JS'f) 
Committee: Transportation 
· 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Increases the number of traffic infractions. 
The collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
' LR0972(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1