An Act To Require Public School Buses To Be Equipped with School Bus Crossing Arms
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0019
Committee Amendment CA_A_H190 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2301

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 20, L.D. 19, Bill, "An Act To Require 
Public School Buses To Be Equipped with School Bus Crossing Arms" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Require Newly Purchased Public School Buses To Be Equipped with 
School Bus Crossing Arms' 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, it is necessary to enact this legislation before model year 2021 school 
buses become available for purchase to avoid requiring previously purchased school 
buses to be retrofitted with a school bus crossing arm; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2301, sub-§5-C is enacted to read: 
5-C. School bus crossing arm. "School bus crossing arm" means a device mounted 
on the front bumper of a school bus that is no shorter than 70 inches and no longer than 
the width of the school bus and when activated extends outward in front of the school bus 
to require students who cross the roadway in front of the school bus to maintain a safe 
distance in front ofthe school bus.' 
Amend the bill in section 2 in §2302 by striking out all of subsection 1-A (page 1, 
lines 29 and 30 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 20, L.D. 19 
'1-A. School bus crossing arms. A school bus of model year 2021 or newer must be 
equipped with a school bus crossing arm.' 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, rather than requiring all school buses to be equipped with a school 
bus crossing arm, requires school buses of model year 2021 or newer to be equipped with 
a school bus crossing arm. This amendment also clarifies the definition of "school bus 
crossing arm" and sets the minimum and maximum length of a school bus crossing arm. 
This amendment also makes the bill an emergency, to take effect when approved. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 04/25/19 feac 
LD 19 
LR3(02) 
An Act To Require Public School Buses To Be Equipped with School Bus Crossing Arms 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A,(/1-/C/l>) 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Potential future biennium cost increase - Local school administrative units 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Requiring all school buses with a model year of 2021 or newer be equipped with a school bus crossing ann may result 
in future increased costs to local school administrative units (SAU's) that pm-chase the newer model buses and to the 
State for increased subsidy amounts paid to local SAU's approved to purchase a bus through the School Bus Purohase 
Program. 
According to the Department of Education, purchasing a school bus with a school bus crossing am1 may increase the 
total cost of a school bus by as much as $700 per bus. SAU's that are approved to purchase a new school bus through 
the School Bus Purchase Program receive funding from the State ,as part of their total subsidy to partially offset the 
cost of the new bus. The amount of subsidy is a set amount that is detennined by the Office of Procurement Services 
within the Department of Administrative and Financial Senrices and is based on bids from vendors that meet the 
minimum state specifications for school buses. This fiscal note assumes that the additional cost of crossing anns will 
be added to the subsidy amounts provided by the State. Those local SAU's that purchase buses outside of the School 
Bus Purchase Program will be responsible for 100% of the additional cost. 
LR0003(02) ·· Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1