1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to pupil transportation; amending duties of pupil transportation safety 
1.3 	director; amending certain traffic regulations related to school buses;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 169.15, subdivision 2; 169.435, subdivision 3; 
1.5 	169.443, by adding a subdivision; 169.444, subdivision 1.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.8 		Subd. 2.Intersection gridlock; stop or block traffic. (a) Except as provided 
1.9 	in paragraph (b), a driver of a vehicle shall not enter an intersection controlled by a 
1.10 	traffic-control signal until the driver is able to move the vehicle immediately, continuously, 
1.11 	and completely through the intersection without impeding or blocking the subsequent 
1.12 	movement of cross traffic.
1.13 	(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to movement of a vehicle made:
1.14 	(1) at the direction of a city-authorized traffic-control agent or a peace officer;
1.15 	(2) to facilitate passage of an authorized emergency vehicle with its emergency 
1.16 	lights activated; ~~or~~
1.17 	(3) to make a turn, as permitted under section 169.19, that allows the vehicle to 
1.18 	safely leave the intersection; or
1.19 	(4) as provided under section 169.443, subdivision 3a.
1.20 	(c) A violation of this subdivision does not constitute grounds for suspension or 
1.21 	revocation of the violator's driver's license.

1.22 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.435, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.23 		Subd. 3.Pupil transportation safety director.  The duties of the pupil 
1.24 	transportation safety director include:
2.1 	(1) overseeing all department activities related to school bus safety;
2.2 	(2) assisting in the development, interpretation, and implementation of laws 
2.3 	and policies relating to school bus safety, in consultation with a stakeholder group 
2.4 	consisting of, but not limited to, representatives of the school board association, school 
2.5 	superintendents, private bus contractors, directors of transportation, school bus employees 
2.6 	or their exclusive bargaining representatives, and parent organizations;
2.7 	(3) supervising preparation of (i) the School Bus Inspection Manual, and (ii) best 
2.8 	practices guidance and training for safe school bus stop locations;
2.9 	(4) in conjunction with the Department of Education and the stakeholder group 
2.10 	described in clause (2), assisting school districts in developing and implementing 
2.11 	comprehensive transportation policies and establishing best practices for private contracts;
2.12 	(5) developing and maintaining a consistent record-keeping system to document 
2.13 	school bus inspections, out-of-service school transportation vehicles, driver turnover 
2.14 	rate, and driver files; and
2.15 	(6) conducting periodic audits of selected school districts to determine compliance 
2.16 	with federal law and state statute concerning (i) school bus driver requirements and 
2.17 	driver employee background and license checks, including controlled substance and 
2.18 	alcohol testing requirements; and (ii) duty to report violations to the commissioner of 
2.19 	public safety. Audit results must be documented and retained by the Office of Pupil 
2.20 	Transportation Safety, and any statutory violations documented in the audit must be 
2.21 	reported to the commissioners of public safety and education.

2.22 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.443, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.23 	to read:
2.24 		Subd. 3a.Stopping in intersection. (a) Notwithstanding section 169.34, 
2.25 	subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (3), or any other law to the contrary, the driver of a 
2.26 	school bus may stop the bus within a T-shaped intersection in order to load or unload 
2.27 	school children if specifically authorized or directed to do so by a school district.
2.28 	(b) This subdivision does not apply to operation of a type III vehicle or a 
2.29 	multifunction school activity bus.

2.30 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.444, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.31 		Subdivision 1.Children getting on or off school bus. When a school bus is stopped 
2.32 	on a street or highway, or other location where signs have been erected under section 
2.33 	169.443, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and is displaying an extended stop-signal arm and 
2.34 	flashing red lights, the driver of a vehicle approaching the bus shall stop the vehicle at 
3.1 	least 20 feet away from the bus. The vehicle driver shall not allow the vehicle to move 
3.2 	until the school bus stop-signal arm is retracted and the red lights are no longer flashing. 
3.3 	For purposes of this subdivision, "approaching the bus" includes vehicle travel along an 
3.4 	intersecting street or highway if the bus is stopped at or within 20 feet of the intersection.