H-3247.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2181

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Kremen, Zellinsky, Sheldon and Linville

Prefiled 01/07/94.  Read first time 01/10/94.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Regulating private school buses.

    AN ACT Relating to the regulation of private school buses; amending RCW 46.37.193; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 46.37 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:

    "Private school bus" means a vehicle with a seating capacity of more than ten persons, including the driver, used regularly to transport students to and from a private school or in connection with private school activities.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 46.37.193 and 1990 c 241 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

    Every school bus, private school bus, and private carrier bus, in addition to any other equipment or distinctive markings required by this chapter, shall bear upon the front and rear thereof, above the windows thereof, plainly visible signs containing only the words "school bus" on a school bus, only the words "private school bus" on a private school bus, and only the words "private carrier bus" on a private carrier bus in letters not less than eight inches in height, and in addition shall be equipped with visual signals meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.190.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 46.37 RCW to read as follows:

    A private school bus is subject to the requirements set forth in the National Minimum Standards for School Buses established by the national safety council in effect at the time of the bus manufacture, as adopted by rule by reference by the chief of the Washington state patrol.  The requirements may not be less than those set forth in the 1980 edition of the National Minimum Standards for School Buses established by the national safety council regardless of the date of manufacture.  The state patrol shall set minimal fees by rule under chapter 34.05 RCW to recover the direct and indirect costs of the private carrier school bus inspections.

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