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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-67-75 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2018, ALL SCHOOL BUSES MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH LAP SEAT BELTS FOR ALL PERMANENT SEATING ACCOMMODATIONS, TO PROVIDE THIS REQUIREMENT IS IN ADDITION TO EXISTING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, TO PROVIDE THESE SEAT BELTS MUST BE PROPERLY FASTENED ABOUT PASSENGERS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, TO PROVIDE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS SHALL ENSURE THAT THESE SEAT BELTS ARE FASTENED ABOUT EACH PASSENGER, AND TO PROVIDE NO CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES MAY ARISE FROM THE FAILURE OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS TO ENSURE PASSENGERS WEAR THESE SEAT BELTS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-67-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS AND SCHOOL BUSES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "LAP SEAT BELT"; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-67-40, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES TO PRIVATE SCHOOL BUSES, SO AS INCLUDE LAP SEAT BELT REQUIREMENTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 67, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-67-75. (A) Before August 1, 2017, every school bus must be equipped with lap seat belts designed and installed in compliance with United States Department of Transportation motor vehicle safety standards for each permanent seating accommodation. This requirement is in addition to the school bus safety standards of Section 56-5-195.
(B) Lap seat belts required in subsection (A) must be fastened about each passenger at all times during vehicle operation for vehicles that have these seat belts. School bus drivers shall ensure that these seat belts are fastened about each passenger. No claim for damages may arise from the failure of a school bus driver to ensure that a passenger of a school bus wears a lap seat belt."
SECTION 2. Section 59-67-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-67-10. When used in this article, chapter:
(1) 'School bus' shall be construed to mean means:
(a) every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency and operated for the transportation of children to or from school; or
(b) privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school.
(2) 'Lap seat belt' means a vehicle seat belt that restrains the lower torso of a passenger, usually with a continuous loop of webbing connected to a buckle with a latchplate."
SECTION 3. Section 59-67-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 59-67-40. (A) All school buses owned and operated by a private school or operated under contract for a private school must conform to State laws and regulations of the State Board of Education with respect to painting, lettering on the front and rear of the bus, use of stop arm and warning lights for loading and unloading pupils on the highway, maximum speeds and stopping at railroad crossings, and lap seat belts.
(B) Buses not complying with these requirements shall must be painted a color other than yellow and shall are not be entitled to the privileges and protection of a school bus operating on the highways of this State."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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