1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; requiring every 
  1.3             school bus to have a bus monitor, a seat belt for each 
  1.4             passenger seat, and a video camera; requiring the 
  1.5             commissioner of public safety to prescribe standards 
  1.6             for school bus seat belts; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.7             1996, section 169.447, by adding subdivisions; 
  1.8             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.9             chapter 169. 
  1.10  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.11     Section 1.  [169.4431] [SAFETY OF SCHOOL CHILDREN; PUPIL 
  1.12  MANAGEMENT.] 
  1.13     Subdivision 1.  [BUS MONITORS.] A type A, B, C, or D school 
  1.14  bus transporting more than ... pupils must have an adult bus 
  1.15  monitor on the bus who is at least 18 years of age and who is 
  1.16  not driving the bus.  The monitor must be an employee of the 
  1.17  school district that is providing or contracting for the service.
  1.18     Subd. 2.  [BUS MONITOR SELECTION.] Before hiring a school 
  1.19  bus monitor, a school district must conduct a criminal records 
  1.20  check of the applicant.  An applicant must be rejected if the 
  1.21  criminal records check indicates that the applicant has 
  1.22  committed a crime for which a school bus driver endorsement may 
  1.23  be canceled under section 171.3215. 
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [BUS MONITOR TRAINING.] Upon employment, a school 
  1.25  district shall provide each bus monitor with training on state 
  1.26  and local transportation laws, rules, regulations, and policies; 
  1.27  school bus equipment; and methods to maintain orderly conduct 
  2.1   and student safety. 
  2.2      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.447, is 
  2.3   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.4      Subd. 2a.  [PASSENGER SEAT BELTS.] (a) In addition to the 
  2.5   requirements in section 169.4501, subdivision 1, a school bus 
  2.6   must have a lap and shoulder belt installed for each 
  2.7   passenger-seating position on the bus.  The design and 
  2.8   installation of seat belts required under this paragraph must 
  2.9   meet the standards of the commissioner established under 
  2.10  paragraph (b). 
  2.11     (b) The commissioner shall prescribe standards for the 
  2.12  design and installation of seat belts required under paragraph 
  2.13  (a).  The standards are not subject to sections 14.05 to 14.47 
  2.14  of the Administrative Procedure Act. 
  2.15     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.447, is 
  2.16  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.17     Subd. 7.  [VIDEO RECORDING CAMERAS.] In addition to the 
  2.18  requirements in section 169.4501, a school bus must be equipped 
  2.19  with a video recording camera installed on the bus. 
  2.20     Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.21     Section 2, subdivision 2a, paragraph (a), and section 3 are 
  2.22  effective September 1, 1997.  Section 2, subdivision 2a, 
  2.23  paragraph (b), is effective the day following final enactment.