All school districts shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) The provisions of this chapter shall be incorporated by express reference into all school district contracts for the transportation of students in privately owned and operated school buses. Every school district, its officers and employees, and every person employed under contract or otherwise by a school district shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(2) School district boards of directors shall adopt written policies or rules for passengers riding school buses not inconsistent with applicable state law and rules. A copy of these policies or rules shall be provided to each student who is scheduled to ride the school bus.
(3) Every school bus driver shall be provided a copy of and shall be thoroughly familiar with all state and local rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of a school bus.
(4) School bus drivers shall be provided a copy of and training in school district rules and regulations pertaining to bullying, harassment, and for reporting sexual misconduct allegations.
(5) On highways divided into separate roadways as provided in RCW
46.61.150 and highways with three or more marked traffic lanes, school districts shall design bus routes that serve each side of the highway so that students do not have to cross the highway, unless there is a traffic control signal as defined in RCW
46.04.600 or an adult crossing guard within three hundred feet of the bus stop to assist students while crossing such multiple-lane highways.
(6) No school bus stop shall be located on a curve or a hill where visibility is not at least five hundred feet. If it is impossible to secure a distance of at least five hundred feet of visibility for a school bus stop, the school authorities, and the traffic engineering department of the jurisdiction responsible for the roadway shall be advised and the stop shall be changed or proper signs installed.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
46.61.380. WSR 18-16-121, § 392-145-011, filed 8/1/18, effective 9/1/18; WSR 07-05-058, § 392-145-011, filed 2/20/07, effective 11/1/07.]