1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; requiring drivers to stop vehicles at the direction 
1.3 	of a school bus flagger;amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.444, 
1.4 	subdivisions 2, 7, by adding subdivisions.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.444, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 1b.Obedience to school bus flagger. A person may stop and hold vehicles in 
1.9 	place at a location on a street or highway with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour 
1.10 	or less until it is safe for the vehicles to proceed, if the person is: (1) designated by the 
1.11 	school district's transportation safety director to act as a flagger; and (2) controlling traffic 
1.12 	in order to enable one or more school buses to safely leave school property and enter the 
1.13 	adjacent street or highway or to safely enter school property from the adjacent street or 
1.14 	highway. A person operating a motor vehicle that has been stopped by a school bus flagger 
1.15 	may proceed after stopping only on instruction by the flagger or a police officer.

1.16 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.444, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.17 	to read:
1.18 		Subd. 1c.Safety and equipment standards. The commissioner of public safety 
1.19 	must establish safety and equipment standards, including but not limited to necessary 
1.20 	training safety equipment and high-visibility safety apparel, for a person designated to 
1.21 	perform school bus flagging.

1.22 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.444, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.1 		Subd. 2.Violations by drivers; penalties. (a) A person who fails to stop a vehicle 
2.2 	or to keep it stopped, as required in subdivision 1b, is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
2.3 	(b) A person who fails to stop a vehicle or to keep it stopped, as required in 
2.4 	subdivision 1, or who violates subdivision 1a, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable 
2.5 	by a fine of not less than $300.
2.6 	(b)(c) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the person fails to stop a motor 
2.7 	vehicle or to keep it stopped, as required in subdivision 1, or who violates subdivision 1a, 
2.8 	and commits either or both of the following acts:
2.9 	(1) passes or attempts to pass the school bus in a motor vehicle on the right-hand, 
2.10 	passenger-door side of the bus; or
2.11 	(2) passes or attempts to pass the school bus in a motor vehicle when a school child is 
2.12 	outside of and on the street or highway used by the school bus or on the adjacent sidewalk.

2.13 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.444, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
2.14 		Subd. 7.Evidentiary presumption. (a) There is a rebuttable presumption that 
2.15 	signals described in section 169.442 were in working order and operable when a violation 
2.16 	of subdivision 1, 1a, 2, or 5 was allegedly committed, if the signals of the applicable 
2.17 	school bus were inspected and visually found to be in working order and operable within 
2.18 	12 hours preceding the incident giving rise to the violation.
2.19 	(b) There is a rebuttable presumption that a motor vehicle outwardly equipped and 
2.20 	identified as a school bus satisfies all of the identification and equipment requirements 
2.21 	of section 169.441 when a violation of subdivision 1, 1a, 1b, 2, or 5 was allegedly 
2.22 	committed, if the applicable school bus bears a current inspection certificate issued under 
2.23 	section 169.451.