| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
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| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to pupil transportation; requiring seat belts on newly purchased school |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 buses; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 169.447, subdivision 2a; |
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| 4 | 4 | | 1.4 169.685, subdivision 1. |
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| 5 | 5 | | 1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
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| 6 | 6 | | 1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.447, subdivision 2a, is amended to read: |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1.7 Subd. 2a.Passenger lap and shoulder belts.(a) In addition to the requirements in |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1.8section 169.4501, subdivision 1,: |
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| 9 | 9 | | 1.9 (1) a school bus may be equipped with an approved lap belt or an approved lap and |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1.10shoulder belt installed for each passenger seating position on the bus; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1.11 (2) a school bus purchased after December 31, 2023, must be equipped with an approved |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1.12lap and shoulder belt installed for each passenger seating position on the bus. |
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| 13 | 13 | | 1.13 (b) The design and installation of lap belts and lap and shoulder belts required under |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.14this paragraph (a) must meet the standards of the commissioner established under this |
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| 15 | 15 | | 1.15paragraph (b). (b) The commissioner shall consider all concerns necessary to properly |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1.16integrate lap belts or lap and shoulder belts into the current compartmentalization safety |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1.17system and prescribe standards for the design and installation of lap and shoulder belts |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1.18required under paragraph (a). The standards are not subject to chapter 14 and are specifically |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1.19not subject to section 14.386. |
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| 20 | 20 | | 1.20 (c) This subdivision does not apply to specially equipped school buses under section |
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| 21 | 21 | | 1.21169.4504. |
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| 22 | 22 | | 1Section 1. |
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| 23 | 23 | | REVISOR CM/BM 23-0142212/22/22 |
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| 24 | 24 | | State of Minnesota |
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| 25 | 25 | | This Document can be made available |
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| 26 | 26 | | in alternative formats upon request |
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| 27 | 27 | | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
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| 28 | 28 | | H. F. No. 182 |
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| 29 | 29 | | NINETY-THIRD SESSION |
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| 30 | 30 | | Authored by Freiberg01/09/2023 |
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| 31 | 31 | | The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation Finance and Policy 2.1 (d) A passenger on a school bus equipped with lap belts or lap and shoulder belts must |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2.2use these lap belts or lap and shoulder belts unless the passenger, or if the passenger is a |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2.3minor, the passenger's parent or guardian, has notified the school district in writing that the |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2.4passenger does not intend to wear the lap belt or lap and shoulder belt. |
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| 35 | 35 | | 2.5 (e) In an action for personal injury or wrongful death against a school district, a school |
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| 36 | 36 | | 2.6bus operator under contract with a school district, or any agent or employee of a school |
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| 37 | 37 | | 2.7district or operator, or against a volunteer, no such person or entity shall be held liable solely |
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| 38 | 38 | | 2.8because the injured party was not wearing a safety belt; provided, however, that nothing |
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| 39 | 39 | | 2.9contained herein shall be construed to grant immunity from liability for failure to: |
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| 40 | 40 | | 2.10 (1) maintain in operating order any equipment required by statute, rule, or school district |
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| 41 | 41 | | 2.11policy; or |
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| 42 | 42 | | 2.12 (2) comply with an applicable statute, rule, or school district policy. |
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| 43 | 43 | | 2.13 (f) In an action for personal injury or wrongful death, a school district, a school bus |
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| 44 | 44 | | 2.14contract operator, any agent or employee of a school district or operator, or a volunteer is |
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| 45 | 45 | | 2.15not liable for failing to assist any child with the adjustment, fastening, unfastening, or other |
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| 46 | 46 | | 2.16use of the lap belt or lap and shoulder belt. |
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| 47 | 47 | | 2.17 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.685, subdivision 1, is amended to read: |
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| 48 | 48 | | 2.18 Subdivision 1.Requirement; exemptions.After January 1, 1964, all new motor vehicles, |
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| 49 | 49 | | 2.19not exempt from Minnesota license fees, other than a bus, school bus, motorcycle, motorized |
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| 50 | 50 | | 2.20bicycle, farm tractor, road tractor, and truck, sold or offered for sale or registered in |
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| 51 | 51 | | 2.21Minnesota shall be equipped to permit the installation of seat belts in the front seat thereof. |
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| 52 | 52 | | 2.22 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective December 31, 2023. |
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| 53 | 53 | | 2Sec. 2. |
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| 54 | 54 | | REVISOR CM/BM 23-0142212/22/22 |
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