1998 Minnesota Statutes

     169.435 State school bus safety administration. 

    Subdivision 1.    Responsibility; department of public 
 safety.  The department of public safety has the primary 
 responsibility for school transportation safety.  To oversee 
 school transportation safety, the commissioner of public safety 
 shall establish a school bus safety advisory committee according 
 to subdivision 2.  The commissioner or the commissioner's 
 designee shall serve as state director of pupil transportation 
 according to subdivision 3. 

    Subd. 2.    School bus safety advisory committee.  (a) 
 The commissioner of public safety shall establish the school bus 
 safety advisory committee.  The commissioner shall provide the 
 committee with meeting space and clerical support.  The 
 commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee 
 shall chair the committee.  The members of the committee also 
 shall include: 

    (1) the commissioner of children, families, and learning or 
 the commissioner's designee; 

    (2) the commissioner of human rights or the commissioner's 
 designee; 

    (3) a county or city attorney; 

    (4) a representative of the state patrol; 

    (5) a school board member; 

    (6) a school superintendent; 

    (7) two school bus drivers, one representing the 
 metropolitan area and one representing greater Minnesota; 

    (8) two school transportation contractors, one representing 
 the metropolitan areas and one representing greater Minnesota; 

    (9) two school transportation safety directors, one 
 representing the metropolitan area and one representing greater 
 Minnesota; and 

    (10) five public members, including at least four parents 
 of children who ride a school bus, among them a parent of a 
 child with a disability.  The public members shall be 
 geographically representative. 

    The commissioner of public safety, in consultation with the 
 commissioner of children, families, and learning, shall appoint 
 the members listed in clauses (3) to (9).  The governor shall 
 appoint the public members in clause (10).  Terms, compensation, 
 and removal of committee members shall be according to section 
 15.059.  The committee shall meet quarterly or as required by 
 the chair. 

    (b) The duties of the committee shall include: 

    (1) an annual report by January 15 to the governor and the 
 education committees of the legislature, including 
 recommendations for legislative action when needed, on student 
 bus safety education, school bus equipment requirements and 
 inspection, including seat belts and other occupant restraint 
 systems, bus driver licensing, training, and qualifications, bus 
 operation procedures, student behavior and discipline, rules of 
 the road, school bus safety education for the public, or any 
 other aspects of school transportation safety the committee 
 considers appropriate; 

    (2) a quarterly review of all school transportation 
 accidents, crimes, incidents of serious misconduct, incidents 
 that result in serious personal injury or death, and bus driver 
 dismissals for cause; and 

    (3) periodic review of school district comprehensive 
 transportation safety policies. 

    (c) The committee expires June 30, 2001. 

    Subd. 3.    Pupil transportation safety director.  The 
 commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's designee 
 shall serve as pupil transportation safety director. 

    The duties of the pupil transportation safety director 
 shall 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; 

    (3) supervising preparation of the school bus inspection 
 manual; 

    (4) in conjunction with the department of children, 
 families, and learning, assisting school districts in developing 
 and implementing comprehensive transportation policies; and 

    (5) providing information requested by the school bus 
 safety advisory committee. 

    HIST: 1994 c 647 art 12 s 13; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 1Sp1997 
 c 4 art 12 s 6