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Committee backs amendment to tie new school‑bus belt requirements to Board of Public Education standards
Summary
House Bill 512 would require new school buses purchased on or after Jan. 1, 2026, to meet lap‑shoulder belt standards set by the Board of Public Education. The sponsor amended the bill to reference BPE standards rather than a prescriptive equipment list; the committee approved the change and forwarded the bill.
House Bill 512, introduced by Rep. Cohen, would require new school buses purchased on or after Jan. 1, 2026 to meet lap‑shoulder belt standards established by the Board of Public Education. The bill originally specified an equipment requirement; the sponsor presented an amendment that replaced the prescriptive equipment language with a compliance standard tied to the Board’s bus specifications.
Members cited a prior fatal school‑bus crash involving a child who was ejected as background supporting the safety measure. Committee members debated implementation timing and logistics; the sponsor’s amendment moved the statute toward reliance on the Board of Public Education’s technical standards rather than a fixed statutory specification. The committee approved the amendment and advanced the bill by voice vote; proxy votes were recorded in the committee minutes.
The bill, as amended, requires new buses to meet board standards but leaves details—such as retrofit requirements for older buses and specific procurement timelines—to board rulemaking and purchasing authorities.
