reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AL Code § 16-27-2 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27 - Transportation of Pupils.|Section 16-27-2 - Transportation of Community, Junior and Technical College, etc., Students on Public School Buses.

Section 16-27-2Transportation of community, junior and technical college, etc., students on public school buses. (a) A student attending a state community, junior and technical college, technical institute or trade school shall be entitled to receive transportation on a public school bus; provided, that no community, junior and technical college, technical institute and trade school bus service is available to such student, such student lives along a route usually served by a public school bus and there is space available in such public school bus for the safe transportation of additional students. (b) The county boards of education whose school buses are being used shall adopt such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions and intent of this section. (Acts 1966, Ex. Sess., No. 448, p. 621, §§ 1, 2.)
AL Code § 16-27-3 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27 - Transportation of Pupils.|Section 16-27-3 - Safety Inspections by State School Bus Inspectors; Reporting and Remedying Deficiencies; Records and Reports.

Section 16-27-3Safety inspections by state school bus inspectors; reporting and remedying deficiencies; records and reports. (a) Safety inspections provided for in the rules hereinabove mentioned shall be made by authorized, qualified State Department of Education employees and shall be made at least once each year and more often when, in the judgment of the State Superintendent of Education, such inspections should be made. The state Director of Public Safety shall advise and consult with the State Department of Education relative to the type and manner of inspections to be made and the scheduling thereof. When a safety check by a state school bus inspector indicates that a bus does not meet the safety standards set up by the State Board of Education, the inspector shall immediately report this fact to the local board of education using such bus. The report shall define the deficiency and prescribe the immediate status of the bus regarding its use; and any bus found by the inspector to be unsafe for operation shall not be used to transport pupils until appropriate repairs have been made. Any restrictions placed on a school bus by an official inspector can be lifted only: (1) When a follow-up inspection reveals that the deficiency has been removed; or (2) When the local superintendent of education certifies to the State Department of Education that the prescribed repairs or corrections have been made. (b) Records and reports relative to such inspections and corrections shall be made on forms prescribed by the State Board of Education. Such records and reports shall be maintained on file by the local board of education for a minimum period of one year. (Acts 1969, No. 281, p. 614, §2; Acts 1971, No. 970, p. 1727.)
AL Code § 16-27-4 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27 - Transportation of Pupils.|Section 16-27-4 - Licensing of Drivers.

Section 16-27-4Licensing of drivers. Regulations made pursuant to an order of the board of education requiring and providing for special training and licensing of drivers of vehicles used to transport pupils to and from school shall require an applicant for a school bus driver's license to be the holder of a currently valid regular driver's license and to complete a minimum of 12 clock-hours of approved instruction in school bus driving and to pass satisfactorily a written examination and also a driving performance test. The written examination shall be designed by the State Superintendent of Education with the cooperation of the state Director of Public Safety and may be given to the applicant either by an employee of the State Department of Education or a state trooper or other representative of the State Department of Public Safety as the State Superintendent of Education and the Director of Public Safety agree; but the driving performance test shall be given by a state trooper or other representative of the state Department of Public Safety. The plan for the performance test shall, however, be submitted to and approved by the State Superintendent of Education before the performance test is given. If the applicant for a school bus driver's license satisfactorily passes the test, the testing officer shall report this fact to the State Superintendent of Education and shall send a copy of such report to the local superintendent of education of the county or city where the applicant desires a job as a school bus driver. Upon receipt of the testing officer's report of an applicant having satisfactorily passed the examinations, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue a special school bus driver's license. Such license shall be valid for one year from the date of its issuance and may be renewed annually for an additional year if the applicant attends a four clock-hour training session for school bus drivers conducted in such manner as the State Superintendent of Education prescribes. Such rules may also provide for the issuance of temporary permits or licenses for school bus drivers who have had a minimum of four clock-hours of instruction conducted by representatives of a local board of education. Holders of such temporary licenses shall only be employed for the purpose of filling vacancies which develop between scheduled training periods, and such temporary licenses shall be valid for a maximum of six months only. (Acts 1969, No. 281, p. 614, §3; Acts 1971, No. 970, p. 1727, § 1; Acts 1982, No. 82-618, p. 1170, §1.)
AL Code § 16-27-5 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27 - Transportation of Pupils.|Section 16-27-5 - Monthly Safety Inspections.

Section 16-27-5Monthly safety inspections. All local boards of education, all presidents of state community, junior and technical colleges and all directors of state technical institutes and trade schools which provide transportation services for pupils or students going to and from public elementary and secondary schools, community, junior and technical colleges or technical institutes and trade schools, and in school or college related activities shall have safety inspections made of all vehicles used for such transportation at least once each month, whether such vehicles are publicly owned and operated or privately owned and operated under contract between the board of education, board of trustees or other governing body of a community, junior and technical college and the owner of vehicle. All safety inspections made hereunder shall be made by qualified mechanics in accordance with standards and rules established by the State Board of Education. (Acts 1969, No. 281, p. 614, §4.)
AL Code § 16-27-6 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27 - Transportation of Pupils.|Section 16-27-6 - Seat Belts.

Section 16-27-6Seat belts. (a) No school bus shall be operated on a public street, highway or elsewhere unless it shall be equipped with a seat belt for the driver. (b) The driver of a school bus while transporting pupils on a public street or highway or elsewhere shall wear a properly fastened seat belt when the bus is in motion. Failure of a bus driver to comply with this requirement shall be prima facie evidence of nonfeasance of duty, and any driver who fails to comply with this requirement shall be subject to dismissal. (c) Every contract between a board of education and a school bus contract operator shall contain a clause requiring the driver of a school bus to wear a properly fastened seat belt when the bus is being used for the transporting of pupils on a public street or highway or elsewhere. Failure of any driver to comply with this requirement shall constitute a breach of contract on the part of the contract operator. (Acts 1969, No. 281, p. 614, §5.)
AL Code § 16-27-7 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27 - Transportation of Pupils.|Section 16-27-7 - Vehicle Liability Insurance for Employees Required to Transport Pupils.

Section 16-27-7Vehicle liability insurance for employees required to transport pupils. (a) The State Board of Education, each governing board of Alabama's public senior universities and each city and county board of education shall provide vehicle liability insurance for bus drivers or any other employee who is required to transport pupils. Said vehicle liability insurance shall cover personal liabilities for bus drivers or any other employee who is required to transport pupils. Said liability insurance shall be applicable to moving vehicular accidents only. (b) School boards and other agencies covered by this section shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section by either purchasing a liability insurance policy naming drivers as insureds, or if the employing board elects not to purchase a policy, by reimbursing individual employees for amounts necessary to add "drive other car broad form liability" riders to their individual vehicle liability insurance policies, to the limits specified by the employing board or agency. (c) The provisions of this section shall also apply to the Alabama Department of Youth Services and the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. (Acts 1984, No. 84-191, p. 300, §§ 1, 2.)
AL Code § 16-27-8 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27 - Transportation of Pupils.|Section 16-27-8 - School Buses - Crossing Control Arm Required.

Section 16-27-8School buses - Crossing control arm required. (a) No new school bus registered in this state and purchased after August 1, 2000, to transport public and nonpublic school students shall be operated or used as a school bus within this state unless the bus is equipped with a crossing control arm on the front of the bus that conforms to equipment and installation standards promulgated by the State Board of Education pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 22 of Title 41, commencing with Section 41-22-1. (b) Priority in the use of any new school bus equipped with a crossing arm shall be given to the transportation of elementary school students. (c) A crossing arm meeting the standards promulgated by the board shall be designed to swing out at least seventy inches from the front of a school bus each time the bus stops and opens its doors for school children to enter or exit the bus. (Act 2000-701, p. 1424, §§1, 2; Act 2004-484, p. 901, §1.)
AL Code § 16-27A-1 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-1 - Short Title; Civil Enforcement of School Bus Violations Authorized.

Section 16-27A-1Short title; civil enforcement of school bus violations authorized. (a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama School Bus Safety Act. (b) Any board may authorize a process of civil enforcement of a school bus violation pursuant to the procedures set out in this chapter. (c) The provisions of this chapter shall not compel a governing body or board to participate in the safety program created herein. (Act 2016-166, §1.)
AL Code § 16-27A-2 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-2 - Definitions.

Section 16-27A-2Definitions. The following definitions and provisions shall apply to this chapter: (1) AUTOMATED DEVICE. Any camera or recording device that uses a vehicle sensor and camera synchronized to record by photograph or video the rear of a motor vehicle approaching or overtaking a school bus that is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children in violation of Section 32-5A-154. (2) BOARD. A board of education or the governing body of a school system. (3) CONTRACTOR. A company that provides services to a board or governing body including, but not limited to, automated devices, citation processing, and collection of the civil fines. None of the activities of the contractor shall be construed as an agent providing or participating in private investigative services or acting as a statutory authority under open records laws. (4) COURT. A district court, if a school bus violation occurs in an unincorporated area or a municipal court if a violation occurs in an incorporated municipality. (5) GOVERNING BODY. A county commission, city council, or city commission. (6) LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. A law enforcement agency of a local governing body, a county sheriff, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, or a school system that is authorized to issue a citation for a violation of the state vehicle law or of local traffic laws or regulations. (7) OWNER. The meaning ascribed to owner in Section 32-1-1.1, except that the term shall not include a motor vehicle rental or leasing company when a motor vehicle registered by the company is being operated by another person under a rental or lease agreement with the company, in which event owner shall mean the person to whom the vehicle is rented or leased; nor shall the term include motor vehicles displaying a dealer license plate, in which event owner shall mean the person to whom the vehicle is assigned for use; nor shall the term include the owner of a vehicle that has been reported stolen to a law enforcement agency prior to the time of the violation, in which event owner shall mean the person who is found guilty of stealing the motor vehicle. (8) SCHOOL BUS VIOLATION or VIOLATION. Any violation of Section 32-5A-154. (9) TRAINED TECHNICIAN. A sworn law enforcement officer or person who has received instruction and training in the proper use of the automated photographic enforcement system to be used by the school board or contractor. (Act 2016-166, §2.)
AL Code § 16-27A-3 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-3 - Adoption of Automated School Bus Enforcement Program; Fines.

Section 16-27A-3Adoption of automated school bus enforcement program; fines. (a) A board may approve the use of automated devices to detect school bus violations by voting at a meeting of the board to approve the adoption of an automated school bus enforcement program. The school board may elect to operate the program authorized in this chapter without the involvement of the governing body or sheriff through the utilization of a trained technician. In such case, all references in this chapter to governing body, county, or city shall apply to the school board. (b) In the alternative, if approved by a board and authorized by ordinance or resolution enacted by the governing body, the board may enter into an agreement with a contractor for the installation, operation, notice processing, administration, and maintenance of school bus automated devices on buses within the school system's fleet whether owned or leased. Prior to entering into a contract for the installation, operation, notice processing, administration, and maintenance of school bus automated devices, the board shall have entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the appropriate law enforcement agencies, municipal police department, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, and/or county sheriff, and the local governing body providing that the appropriate law enforcement agency is willing to review any violation occurring in its respective jurisdiction. (c) A civil fine of three hundred dollars ($300) for each offense shall be imposed for a school bus violation for which a notice of violation is issued pursuant to this chapter. All such fines shall be paid, after deducting costs to administer, operate, and maintain the program, as follows: 40 percent to the county or municipal governing body which contracted for the operation of a school bus violation program through an intergovernmental agreement with the board pursuant to subsection (b); 40 percent to the school system where the offense was committed; 10 percent to the State Department of Education for school bus safety initiatives; and 10 percent to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for highway safety enforcement. (Act 2016-166, §3.)
AL Code § 16-27A-5 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-5 - Payment of Fines.

Section 16-27A-5Payment of fines. The owner of a vehicle that has been issued a notice of violation shall be responsible for payment of the civil fine unless the owner successfully transfers responsibility, there is an adjudication that no violation occurred, or there is an otherwise lawful determination that no civil penalty shall be imposed. All owners of a vehicle who are mailed or receive a notice of violation shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of the civil fine. The county or municipality may collect the civil fine in the same manner as any other debt owed to the county or municipality. (Act 2016-166, §5.)
AL Code § 16-27A-6 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-6 - Transfer of Responsibility for Payment of Fine.

Section 16-27A-6Transfer of responsibility for payment of fine. (a) The owner shall not be responsible for payment of the civil fine resulting from a notice of violation if each of the following conditions apply: (1) The vehicle was operated at the time of the violation by a person who was not the owner or an agent or employee of the owner. (2) The owner signs and timely transmits to the governing body on the form provided with the notice of violation and in accordance with the procedure set out on the notice of violation a statement that he or she was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation, and that the person who was operating the vehicle was not the agent or employee of the owner. (3) The owner timely transmits to the governing body on the form provided with the notice of violation and in accordance with the procedure set out on the notice of violation the name and mailing address of the person who was operating the vehicle. (4) The civil fine is paid by any person, unless there is adjudication that no violation occurred or there is otherwise a lawful determination that no civil penalty shall be imposed. (b) Whenever a county or municipality timely receives the information required from the owner to transfer responsibility, the county, municipality, or its contractor shall issue a new notice of violation to the person to whom the owner transferred responsibility with an explanation as to why the person is receiving the notice of violation, in the same manner as if the person were the owner of the vehicle. The person shall be responsible for payment of the civil fine unless the person either: (1) Timely returns a signed statement on a form provided with the notice of violation that he or she was not the operator and declining responsibility, in which case responsibility shall fall back to the owner. (2) Admits to being the operator but denies committing a violation, in which case the person may contest the notice of violation in the same manner as the owner may contest the notice of violation. (c) In cases in which a person other than the owner denies he or she was the operator and declines responsibility, a new notice shall be issued to the owner stating that the other person declined responsibility and giving the owner the option of paying the civil fine or contesting the violation by a stated date that shall be not less than 20 days from the mailing of the new notice. The owner may not attempt to transfer responsibility more than one time using this procedure. If the owner chooses to contest the notice of violation after the owner has unsuccessfully attempted to transfer responsibility using this procedure, and the owner claims in defense that another person was the operator of the vehicle, the court may take appropriate action to cause the owner and the other person to appear at the same hearing to determine responsibility. (Act 2016-166, §6.)
AL Code § 16-27A-8 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-8 - Appeals.

Section 16-27A-8Appeals. Persons who contest a notice of violation and are adjudicated by the court to be responsible for the civil fine may appeal the adjudication for a trial de novo to the circuit court of the county in which the district or municipal court is located, using the procedures that apply to criminal convictions with the following qualifications: (1) The proceedings shall retain their civil nature on appeal with the circuit court applying the preponderance of the evidence standard. (2) The person appealing must, as a condition precedent to appeal, pay the civil fine in full, and failure to do so shall divest the circuit court of jurisdiction. If on appeal the circuit court finds that the person is not responsible for payment of the civil fine, the county or municipality shall refund the same without interest within 15 days of receipt of notice of the disposition from the circuit court. If the person is adjudicated by the circuit court to be responsible for payment of the civil fine, then no additional fine may be imposed by the circuit court, but court costs of the circuit court shall be owed by the person adjudicated responsible with 100 percent of the court costs retained by the circuit court. Court costs in the circuit court shall be calculated as are court costs for criminal appeals from the district or municipal court, and in the event the circuit court finds the person appealing not to be responsible, no court costs shall be owed by the county or municipal board of education. (3) Regardless of the civil nature of the proceedings, the circuit court, in its discretion and for its administrative convenience, may assign case numbers as for criminal appeals and place the appeals on criminal dockets in the same manner as criminal appeals from a district or municipal court. (Act 2016-166, §8.)
AL Code § 16-27A-9 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-9 - Exception When Identity of Owner Cannot Be Reliably Established.

Section 16-27A-9Exception when identity of owner cannot be reliably established. In the event the evidence produced by an automated device does not produce an image or video of the license plate with sufficient clarity for a law enforcement officer or trained technician to determine the identity of the owner, and if the identity cannot otherwise be reliably established, then no notice of violation may be issued pursuant to this chapter. (Act 2016-166, §9.)
AL Code § 16-27A-10 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-10 - Nonpayment of Civil Fine.

Section 16-27A-10Nonpayment of civil fine. (a) No person may be arrested or incarcerated for nonpayment of a civil fine. (b) A governing body may contract with a collection service for the purpose of collecting any unpaid civil fine authorized by this chapter. (Act 2016-166, §10.)
AL Code § 16-27A-11 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 16 - Education.|Chapter 27A - Alabama School Bus Safety Act.|Section 16-27A-11 - Construction With Other Laws.

Section 16-27A-11Construction with other laws. Adoption by a board of the procedures under this chapter and the enforcement of this chapter by a governing body shall not affect current procedure and prosecutions commenced by issuance of a uniform traffic ticket and complaint by a law enforcement officer or otherwise. The issuance of a notice of violation as authorized by this chapter shall be subordinate to the issuance of a uniform traffic ticket and complaint for the same action if issued by a sworn law enforcement officer, and issuance of a uniform traffic ticket and complaint for a school bus violation shall preclude issuance of a notice of violation as authorized by this chapter. In the event both a uniform traffic ticket and complaint and a notice of violation as authorized by this chapter are issued for the same action, the one issued by a sworn law enforcement officer pursuant to Section 32-5A-154, shall control and shall constitute a defense to the other. (Act 2016-166, §11.)