ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Forty-ninth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2137
school bus inspections; rules
Purpose
Requires school bus inspections to be conducted according to rules adopted by the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA).
Background
Currently, school buses registered in Arizona must be inspected annually by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). DPS issues an official certificate of inspection and approval to both publicly and privately owned school buses upon successful inspection.
The Department of Administration (ADOA) in consultation with DPS, and the School Bus Advisory council requires the adoption of rules and what they may include in order to improve the safety and welfare of school bus passengers by minimizing the probability of accidents and minimizing bodily injury to passengers in the event of an accident.
Arizona Administrative Code Rules 17-9-108 provides the procedures for inspection, maintenance, and alterations for school buses. If no major defects are found during an inspection, DPS places an inspection sticker on the bus. If there are major defects the bus is placed out of service. A bus remains out of service until the defects are fixed and after it passes a second inspection. If only minor defects are found, a school bus may remain in service, however an inspection order is issued and the owner must repair the minor defects and return the inspection order to DPS within 15 working days.
Provisions
1. Removes the requirement of for DPS to annually inspect school buses registered in Arizona.
2. Requires each registered school bus to be inspected annually according to statutorily required school bus rules.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Contains a general effective date.
House Action
MAPS 2/11/09 DP 8-0-0-0-0
3rd Read 6/11/09 55-0-5-0
Prepared by Senate Research
June 22, 2009
SM/tam