School Bus Safety: Stop-Arm Cameras
Also known as: School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Camera Act
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Congress is considering a plan to help schools catch drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. The bill would create a new grant program to help states buy and install "stop-arm" cameras, which record cars that fail to stop when children are getting on or off the bus.
- The Department of Transportation would first conduct a study to see how these cameras improve safety. Within one year, they would release recommendations on how to protect student privacy and the best ways to share camera footage with police to ticket dangerous drivers.
- State education departments could apply for federal money to buy new buses with cameras already installed or to add cameras to the buses they already own. The grant money can also be used to pay for the maintenance and repair of the camera systems.
- The program aims to be financially self-sustaining. This means the money collected from traffic tickets could eventually be used to pay for the cameras and safety programs so they don't require extra tax money in the long run.
- The grant program would be officially set up within 18 months of the bill becoming law. This gives the government time to set rules for how states can apply for the funding and how the money should be spent.
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to increase the use of stop-arm safety camera technology on schoolbuses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor
Data Sources
Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.