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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Traffic Code by requiring a new school bus purchased after June
10 30, 2017, to be equipped with seatbelts.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ requires all new school buses purchased after June 30, 2017, to be equipped with
14 seatbelts for all passengers;
15 ▸ exempts certain parties from liability in a personal injury action related to the use,
16 nonuse, or misuse of a seatbelt on a school bus;
17 ▸ provides rulemaking authority; and
18 ▸ makes technical changes.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 41-6a-1301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 412
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27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 Section 1. Section 41-6a-1301 is amended to read:
29 41-6a-1301. Standards and specifications for lighting and special warning devices
30 on school buses.
31 (1) (a) A school bus shall be equipped with red signal lamps mounted as high and as
32 widely spaced laterally as practicable.
33 (b) The red signal lamps shall display two alternately flashing red lights, located at the
34 same level, to the front and rear of the school bus.
35 (c) The red signal lamps shall be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
36 (2) (a) A school bus shall be equipped with yellow signal lamps mounted near each of
37 the four red signal lamps and at the same level but closer to the vertical centerline of the bus.
38 (b) The yellow signal lamps shall display two alternately flashing yellow lights to the
39 front and rear of the school bus.
40 (c) The yellow signal lamps shall be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
41 (3) A school bus driver shall activate the yellow signal lamps at least 100 feet, but not
42 more than 500 feet, before every stop at which the alternately flashing red lights are activated.
43 (4) (a) A school bus with a model year of 2017 or newer that is purchased after June
44 30, 2017, shall be equipped with three-point seatbelts available for use by each passenger on
45 the school bus.
46 (b) In accordance with Section 41-6a-1304, the Department of Transportation shall
47 adopt and enforce rules governing the design and installation of seatbelts on school buses.
48 (c) The state, a county, a school district, a school bus operator under contract with a
49 school district, or an agent or employee of a school district or operator, including a teacher or
50 volunteer serving as a chaperone, is not required to ensure use or proper use of a seatbelt on a
51 school bus.
52 (d) The state, a county, a school district, a school bus operator under contract with a
53 school district, or an agent or employee of a school district or operator, including a teacher or
54 volunteer serving as a chaperone, is not liable in an action for personal injury to a school bus
55 passenger for an injury caused solely by a passenger's use, nonuse, or misuse of a seatbelt.
56 [