Bill Text: IA HF35 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act requiring certain new school buses to be equipped with seat belts, requiring the use of such seat belts, and making penalties applicable.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-15 - Introduced, referred to Transportation. H.J. 98. [HF35 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-HF35-Introduced.html
House File 35 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY HUNTER A BILL FOR 1 An Act requiring certain new school buses to be equipped with 2 seat belts, requiring the use of such seat belts, and making 3 penalties applicable. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1239YH (4) 86 ns/nh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 321.373, Code 2015, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 7A. A new school bus ordered for purchase 1 4 on or after July 1, 2015, shall be equipped with safety 1 5 belts and safety harnesses that conform with 49 C.F.R. 1 6 {571.209=571.210 for every seating position. 1 7 Sec. 2. Section 321.445, subsection 2, paragraph b, 1 8 subparagraph (4), Code 2015, is amended to read as follows: 1 9 (4) Passengers on a bus other than a school bus equipped 1 10 with safety belts or safety harnesses pursuant to section 1 11 321.373, subsection 7A. 1 12 Sec. 3. Section 321.446, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2015, are 1 13 amended to read as follows: 1 14 1. a. A child under one year of age and weighing less 1 15 than twenty pounds who is being transported in a motor 1 16 vehicle subject to registration, except aschool bus or1 17 motorcycle, shall be secured during transit in a rear=facing 1 18 child restraint system that is used in accordance with the 1 19 manufacturer's instructions. 1 20 b. A child under six years of age who does not meet the 1 21 description in paragraph "a" and who is being transported 1 22 in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except aschool 1 23 bus ormotorcycle, shall be secured during transit by a 1 24 child restraint system that is used in accordance with the 1 25 manufacturer's instructions. 1 26 2. A child at least six years of age but under eighteen 1 27 years of age who is being transported in a motor vehicle 1 28 subject to registration, except aschool bus ormotorcycle, 1 29 shall be secured during transit by a child restraint system 1 30 that is used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions 1 31 or by a safety belt or safety harness of a type approved under 1 32 section 321.445. 1 33 Sec. 4. Section 321.446, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 1 34 2015, is amended to read as follows: 1 35 b. The transportation of children in 1965 model year or 2 1 older vehicles, authorized emergency vehicles, buses other than 2 2 school buses which are equipped with safety belts or safety 2 3 harnesses pursuant to section 321.373, subsection 7A, or motor 2 4 homes or motorsports recreational vehicles, except when a child 2 5 is transported in a motor home's or motorsports recreational 2 6 vehicle's passenger seat situated directly to the driver's 2 7 right. 2 8 Sec. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT. Section 25B.2, subsection 2 9 3, shall not apply to this Act. 2 10 EXPLANATION 2 11 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 12 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 13 This bill requires that new school buses ordered for 2 14 purchase on or after July 1, 2015, be equipped with safety 2 15 belts and safety harnesses for every seating position. The 2 16 bill also requires the use of safety belts and safety harnesses 2 17 by the driver and passengers on such school buses. Current 2 18 requirements for the use of child restraint systems for 2 19 children under 18 years of age also apply to school buses 2 20 equipped with safety belts and safety harnesses under the bill. 2 21 A violation of seat belt requirements is a scheduled 2 22 violation subject to a fine of $50. A violation of seat belt 2 23 or restraint requirements for persons under 18 years of age is 2 24 a scheduled violation subject to a fine of $100. Seat belt and 2 25 restraint violations are not a factor in establishing grounds 2 26 for license suspension or identifying a person as a habitual 2 27 violator. 2 28 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 2 29 section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, 2 30 subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from 2 31 complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of 2 32 the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, 2 33 political subdivisions are required to comply with any state 2 34 mandate included in the bill. LSB 1239YH (4) 86 ns/nh
