An Act to Require School Buses to Be Equipped with and to Use School Bus
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2159
Committee Amendment CA_A_HA_A_H963 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §2304

HOUSE AMENDMENT " /\ " to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1448,
L.D, 2159, "An Act to Require School Buses to Be Equipped with and to Use School Bus
Crossing Arms"
Amend the amendment by inserting after the title the following;
'Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Require School Buses to Be Equipped with and to Use School Bus Crossing
Arms and to Amend the Law Regarding the Use of Antipinch Technology on School
Bus Doors"
Amend the amendment by inserting after section 2 the following:
'See. 3. 29-A MRSA §2304, sub"§2, ^[A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 423, §1, is
further amended to read:
A. One door on the right side near the front for ordinary exits and entrances, which
must be equipped with technology to prevent the door from closing on a person's limb
or other body part if the school buo was manufaotured in 2025 or later; and'
Amend the amendment by inserting after section 3 the following:
'See. 4. 29-A MRSA §2304, sub-§5 is enacted to read;
5. Antioinch technoloev. This subsection eovems the use of technoloev required
under subsection 2. oaraeraph A.
A, The operator of a school bus that is carrvine passeneers shall ensure that the
reauired technolopv to orevent the door from closiQe on a person s limb or other body
part pursuant to subsection 2. oaraeraoh A is installed and in eood workine order. The
oDei'ator of a school bus may not carry passeneers if the technoloev is not installed or
is not in aood working order.
B, A person who violates oaragi'aoh A comimts a traffic infraction if that person knows
or should know that the school bus that person is ooeratine does not meet the
requirements of subsection 1.'
Amend the amendment in section 8 in the last line (page 3, line 32 in amendment) by
striking out the following; " 10" and inserting the following:' 12'
HOUSE AMENDMENT
^Q<0 HOUSE AMENDMENT " /\ " to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" (o H.P. 1448, L.D. 2159
Amend the amendment in section 9 in the 4th line (page 3, line 36 in amendment) by
striking out the following: "8" and inserting the following: '10'
Amend the amendment in section 9 in the 1 1th line (page 4, line 1 in amendment) by
striking out the following: "11" and inserting the following: '13'
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or
section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment amends Committee Amendment "A" to require all school buses to be
equipped with technology to prevent the door from closing on persons. It requires school
bus operators to ensure that the required technology is installed and in good working order.
A violation is a traffic infraction.
SPONSORED BY:
~°1Z^ "V
(Representative GOLEK, 'C.)
TOWN: HarpsweU
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRISL
(See attached)
Page2-132LR2971(04)
HOUSE AMENDMENT
Approved; 04/01/26 t^KL
LD 2159 LR 2971(04)
An Act to Require School Buses to Be Equipped with and to Use School Bus Crossing Arms
Fiscal Note for House Amendment '/^' to Committee Amendment "A" [H -(
Sponsor: Rep. Golek ofHarpswell
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
No new funding required
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This amendment requires school buses to be equipped with anti-pinch technology. The committee amendment
included funding for anti-pinch door sensors, Therefore, no additional funding is needed to fund the mandate to school
administrative units (SAUs) by covering at least 90% of the costs for SAUs to comply with the requirements of this
bill.
LR2971(04) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1