House Bills 5859 and 5860
Sponsor: Rep. Eileen DeHart
Committee: Transportation
Complete to 6-15-00
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5859 AND 5860 AS INTRODUCED 5-30-00
House Bills 5859 and 5860 would require the placement of signs on school buses warning drivers to stop when the bus' lights are flashing, and dedicate fine revenue for violations of that offense to pay for the signs. The bills are tie-barred; neither could become law unless both were enacted.
House Bill 5859 would amend the Pupil Transportation Act (MCL 257.1835) to require that after December 31, 2000, each school bus manufactured for use, or used, in this state have a sign on the back of the bus stating "It is a civil fine of not more than $500 to pass this vehicle when the red lights are flashing.".
House Bill 5860 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.909) to specify that a civil fine ordered for a violation of Section 682 (the section of the code that requires drivers to stop behind a school bus whose red lights are flashing) be credited to a restricted school district bus fleet reimbursement account that would be created in the state treasury. Upon application to the Department of Treasury, money in the account would be used to reimburse a school district for the cost of complying with the requirement proposed by House Bill 5859 to place signs on the back of buses. The bill specifies that this subsection would apply until each school district in the state had complied with the bus sign requirement. Under the bill any money remaining in the account at that time would be exclusively applied to the support of public libraries and county law libraries.
Analyst: J. Hunault