SENATE BILL 156

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

William P. Soules

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; REQUIRING THAT ALL SCHOOL BUSES PURCHASED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2019 HAVE SEAT BELTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF SCHOOL BUSES WITH SEAT BELTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 22-16-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 469, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-16-11. REGULATIONS RELATIVE TO SCHOOL BUSES.--

          A. The state transportation director [appointed as provided in Section 22-16-1 NMSA 1978] shall adopt and enforce [regulations] rules adopted by the [state board] department not inconsistent with the Motor Vehicle Code to govern the design and operation of all school buses used for the transportation of school children [when]; provided that the rules shall require all school buses purchased on or after July 1, 2019 to be equipped with seat belts for all passengers.

          B. The rules adopted under Subsection A of this section shall apply to school buses used for the transportation of school children when the buses are owned and operated by any school district or privately owned and operated under contract with any school district in this state, and the [regulations] rules shall by reference be made a part of any such contract with a school district. Every school district, its officers and employees and every person employed under contract by a school district shall be subject to the [regulations] rules.

          [B.] C. Any officer or employee of any school district who violates any of the [regulations] rules or fails to include obligation to comply with the [regulations] rules in any contract executed by [him] the officer or employee on behalf of a school district is guilty of misconduct and subject to removal from office or employment. Any person operating a school bus, under contract with a school district, who fails to comply with any of the [regulations] rules is guilty of breach of contract, and the contract may be canceled after notice and hearing by the state transportation director acting in conjunction with the responsible officers of the school district.

          [C.] D. Any driver of a school bus who fails to comply with any of the [regulations] rules is guilty of a misdemeanor."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Eight million five hundred thousand dollars ($8,500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2020 to purchase school buses with passenger seat belts. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2020 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2019.

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