SECTION 210:30-5-6. School buses

(a)   Equipment.

(1)   Transportation equipment used to transport ten (10) or more public school students at one time to any curriculum based activity or program shall meet all the minimum standards required for Types A, B, C, and D buses. For the purposes of this section, "curriculum based activity or program" shall include, but not be limited to, student attendance at a technology center.

(2)   Vehicles having a seating capacity of fewer than ten (10) passengers, excluding the operator, are not required to meet the State minimum standards for school buses.

(b)   School bus inspections.

(1)   A driver shall perform a daily pre-trip safety inspection of the vehicle. The inspection shall include brakes, lights, tires, exhaust system, gauges, windshield wipers, steering and fuel. The driver shall make a daily written report describing the condition of the bus and listing any deficiencies. This report is to remain on file with the chief administrative officer of the local school district or designee of the chief administrative officer for a period of ninety (90) days.

(2)   A driver shall perform a daily post-trip inspection of the interior passenger area of the vehicle to ensure that no pupils remain on the vehicle after the end of the route.

(3)   A school district shall have each school bus mechanically inspected annually by an inspector approved by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

(4)   At least twice during each school year, each pupil who is transported in a school vehicle shall be instructed in safe riding practices, and participate in emergency evacuation drills. This instruction should be conducted during the first two weeks of each semester.

(c)   School bus inspector qualifications.

(1)   Any person licensed to inspect school buses by the Department of Public Safety under the Motor Vehicle Laws of Oklahoma prior to July 1, 2001, may be qualified to perform annual school bus inspections until July 1, 2014.

(2)   Any person not meeting the qualifications as prescribed in (1) of this subsection may be qualified to perform the annual school bus inspection by submitting proof to the Oklahoma State Department of Education that they meet one or more of the following qualifications:

(A)   Two years' experience as an automotive technician and certification by the Association for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in medium-heavy truck brake, transit bus brake, school bus brake, medium-heavy truck preventive maintenance inspection, or transit bus preventive maintenance inspection; or

(B)   Any person qualified to perform inspections under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, appendix G. and accompanying regulations at 49 CFR 396.19 will be qualified to inspect any school bus except for the brakes. Persons qualified to inspect brakes under 49 CFR 396.25 shall be qualified to inspect the brakes on any school bus; or

(C)   Successful completion of an Inspector's Training Course approved by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

(d)   Standards and school bus specifications.

(1)   The NATIONAL MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL BUSES applies to school bus construction and equipment. The Oklahoma State Board of Education has accepted the various methods bus manufacturers use to meet the requirements of these standards and all requirements under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. (P.L. 89-563) The responsibility for compliance with Federal and State bus specifications rests with dealers and manufacturers.

(2)   State Standards in addition to Federal requirements also apply as follows:

(A)   No school district may purchase any used or previously owned school bus unless the seller certifies prior to the sale that the bus meets all safety standards and specifications for the date of manufacture of the used bus. Any school district that purchases a used or previously owned bus without the certification regarding compliance with standards shall forfeit its state transportation aid. The seller of any used or previously owned school bus shall certify to the local board of education that any such transportation equipment meets all Oklahoma and National Standards required for the date of its manufacture.

(B)   Church buses used for the purpose of transporting children to and from schools accredited by the State Department of Education shall be painted National School Bus Yellow.

(3)   School districts that convert or have converted school buses to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shall comply with safety standards prescribed by the National Fire Protection Association, Standard No. 58 (NFPA-58) and the Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Administration. In order to ensure safe installation and proper maintenance of equipment, all personnel must also meet the following existing requirements of the Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Administration: "No person, firm, corporation, association, or other entity shall engage in the manufacturing, assembling, fabrication, installing, or selling of any system, container, or apparatus to be used in this State in or for the transportation, storing, dispensing, or utilization of LPG, nor shall any transporter, distributor, or retailer of LPG store, dispense and/or transport over the highways of this State any LPG for use in this State in any system, container, apparatus, or appliance without having first obtained a permit to do so as provided."

[Source: Added at 30 Ok Reg 1047, eff 6-27-13; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 923, eff 8-27-15]