HJ34: School buses; JLARC to study effectiveness of requiring seat belts.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 34

Offered January 8, 2014
Prefiled December 30, 2013
Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the effectiveness of requiring seat belts on school buses in the Commonwealth. Report.
Patron-- Lingamfelter

Committee Referral Pending

WHEREAS, six states have passed laws requiring seat belts on school buses; and

WHEREAS, thousands of children in the Commonwealth rely on school buses to transport them safely to and from school and school-sponsored activities; and

WHEREAS, the safety of this form of transportation is paramount; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study the effectiveness of requiring seat belts on school buses in the Commonwealth.

In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) shall:

1. Assess the implementation of mandatory school seat belt laws in California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and Texas;

2. Consult and summarize the findings of past and current studies on the effectiveness of requiring seat belts on school buses;

3. Consult and summarize any guidance on the subject from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration; and

4. Solicit input from each local school board on the effectiveness and cost of requiring seat belts on every school bus.

Technical assistance shall be provided to JLARC by the Department of Education and each local school board. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to JLARC for this study, upon request.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2014, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2015 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether JLARC intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.