Under current law, school buses must be painted yellow and black and must
have the words "SCHOOL BUS" in black letters at least eight inches high written
on the front and back of the bus. A school bus painted in this manner may not be
operated unless it is equipped with flashing red signals and with a 360-degree
flashing white strobe light. Current law also allows the Department of
Transportation (DOT) to prescribe rules requiring additional equipment for school
buses.

This substitute amendment requires any school bus that is painted yellow and
black to be equipped with an electronic seat check reminder system that will require
the school bus driver to walk to the rear of the bus past each seat to check for
passengers remaining in the bus and deactivate the system or an alarm will sound
if the driver attempts to exit the bus. The substitute amendment also requires DOT
to prescribe rules for the specifications, installation, and operation of these electronic
seat check reminder systems. Any person who operates a school bus that is not

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equipped with the required electronic seat check reminder may be required to forfeit
not less than $10 nor more than $200.