SF 2351

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/09/2016 08:58am

A bill for an act
relating to pupil transportation; amending duties of pupil transportation safety
director; amending certain traffic regulations related to school buses; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 169.15, subdivision 2; 169.435, subdivision 3;
169.443, by adding a subdivision; 169.444, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Intersection gridlock; stop or block traffic.

(a) Except as provided
in paragraph (b), a driver of a vehicle shall not enter an intersection controlled by a
traffic-control signal until the driver is able to move the vehicle immediately, continuously,
and completely through the intersection without impeding or blocking the subsequent
movement of cross traffic.

(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to movement of a vehicle made:

(1) at the direction of a city-authorized traffic-control agent or a peace officer;

(2) to facilitate passage of an authorized emergency vehicle with its emergency
lights activated; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(3) to make a turn, as permitted under section 169.19, that allows the vehicle to
safely leave the intersection new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (4) as provided under section 169.443, subdivision 3a new text end .

(c) A violation of this subdivision does not constitute grounds for suspension or
revocation of the violator's driver's license.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.435, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Pupil transportation safety director.

The duties of the pupil
transportation safety director include:

(1) overseeing all department activities related to school bus safety;

(2) assisting in the development, interpretation, and implementation of laws
and policies relating to school bus safety, in consultation with a stakeholder group
consisting of, but not limited to, representatives of the school board association, school
superintendents, private bus contractors, directors of transportation, school bus employees
or their exclusive bargaining representatives, and parent organizations;

(3) supervising preparation of new text begin (i) new text end the School Bus Inspection Manual new text begin , and (ii) best
practices guidance and training for safe school bus stop locations new text end ;

(4) in conjunction with the Department of Education and the stakeholder group
described in clause (2), assisting school districts in developing and implementing
comprehensive transportation policies and establishing best practices for private contracts;

(5) developing and maintaining a consistent record-keeping system to document
school bus inspections, out-of-service school transportation vehicles, driver turnover
rate, and driver files; and

(6) conducting periodic audits of selected school districts to determine compliance
with federal law and state statute concerning (i) school bus driver requirements and
driver employee background and license checks, including controlled substance and
alcohol testing requirements; and (ii) duty to report violations to the commissioner of
public safety. Audit results must be documented and retained by the Office of Pupil
Transportation Safety, and any statutory violations documented in the audit must be
reported to the commissioners of public safety and education.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.443, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Stopping in intersection. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding section 169.34,
subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (3), or any other law to the contrary, the driver of a
school bus may stop the bus within a T-shaped intersection in order to load or unload
school children if specifically authorized or directed to do so by a school district.
new text end

new text begin (b) This subdivision does not apply to operation of a type III vehicle or a
multifunction school activity bus.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.444, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Children getting on or off school bus.

When a school bus is stopped
on a street or highway, or other location where signs have been erected under section
169.443, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and is displaying an extended stop-signal arm and
flashing red lights, the driver of a vehicle approaching the bus shall stop the vehicle at
least 20 feet away from the bus. The vehicle driver shall not allow the vehicle to move
until the school bus stop-signal arm is retracted and the red lights are no longer flashing.
new text begin For purposes of this subdivision, "approaching the bus" includes vehicle travel along an
intersecting street or highway if the bus is stopped at or within 20 feet of the intersection.
new text end