EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0283*
HOUSE BILL 283
R5 2lr1361
HB 87/21 – ENT CF 2lr1362
By: Delegate D. Jones Delegates D. Jones, Barve, Boyce, Ciliberti, Foley,
Fraser–Hidalgo, Healey, Jalisi, Lehman, Love, Prettyman, Ruth, Stein,
Terrasa, Wells, and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: January 17, 2022
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 15, 2022
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – School Bus Safety – Occupant Capacity 2
FOR the purpose of requiring that a school bus be routed with the intent that the number 3
of pupils on the bus does not exceed the manufacturer’s rated seating capacity for 4
the bus; requiring that, if an emergency or temporary situation causes the number 5
of pupils to exceed the rated seating capacity, the situation be corrected within a 6
reasonable period of time; and generally relating to school bus safety. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 21–1118(a) and (b) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Transportation 14
Section 21–1118(c) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
2 HOUSE BILL 283
Article – Transportation 1
21–1118. 2
(a) The driver of a school bus: 3
(1) Is responsible for its operation; and 4
(2) May not drive it into any roadway without first stopping and 5
determining that there is no danger from any other vehicle. 6
(b) The person responsible for any pupils on a school bus is: 7
(1) The teacher on the bus; or 8
(2) If a teacher is not present, the driver. 9
(c) (1) A SCHOOL BUS SHALL BE ROUTED WITH THE INTE NT THAT THE 10
NUMBER OF PUPILS ON THE BUS DOES NOT EXC EED THE MANUFACTURER ’S RATED 11
SEATING CAPACITY FOR THE BUS. 12
(2) IF AN EMERGENCY OR OTHER T EMPORARY SITUATION C AUSES 13
THE NUMBER OF PUPILS ON A SCHOOL BUS TO E XCEED THE SEATING CA PACITY OF 14
THE BUS, THE SITUATION SHALL BE CORRECTED WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF 15
TIME. 16
(3) A person responsible for pupils on a school bus may not permit the 17
number of standing pupils to exceed one pupil for each part of the aisle that is bounded on 18
both sides by forward facing seats. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 20
1, 2022. 21
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.