Current law requires school buses to be painted "school bus yellow" with black
trim and lettering (school bus colors). A "school bus" is defined to include a motor
vehicle that carries ten or more passengers in addition to the operator, or that is
painted in school bus colors, for the purpose of transporting pupils to or from a public
or private school or to or from curricular or extracurricular activities. However, a
"school bus" does not include a motor vehicle owned or operated by a parent
transporting only his or her own children, an alternative vehicle, or a motor bus
operated for purposes of transporting pupils to or from curricular or extracurricular
activities. These motor vehicles specifically excluded from the definition of "school
bus" may, however, be painted in school bus colors and, when so painted, are subject
to all rules applicable to school buses.

Current law prohibits a person from operating a school bus that is painted in
school bus colors unless the school bus is equipped with flashing red signals and with
a flashing white strobe light. Current Department of Transportation (DOT) rules
also require a school bus painted in school bus colors to be equipped with a stop signal
arm.

This bill creates a distinct category of school bus called a multifunction school
activity bus (MFSAB), which is defined as vehicle that is a school bus but that does

---

not transport pupils to or from the pupils' homes or school bus stops near the pupils'
homes. An MFSAB is not required to be painted in school bus colors and, when not
so painted, is not required to be equipped with flashing red signals, a flashing white
strobe light, a stop signal arm, or a retractable crossing gate on the front of the bus.
However, an MFSAB can be painted in school bus colors and, when so painted, must
be equipped with flashing red signals, a flashing white strobe light, and a retractable
crossing gate on the front of the bus and is also subject to DOT rules requiring a stop
signal arm. The bill also specifies that an MFSAB that is not equipped with flashing
red lights is not subject to certain operating requirements related to school bus
flashing red lights. In other respects, an MFSAB is subject to requirements
applicable to other school buses and may operate as other school buses do.

With exceptions, current law prohibits vehicles from displaying flashing lights.
This bill allows MFSABs to be equipped with a 360-degree flashing or rotating
amber light mounted at the highest practicable point on the vehicle.