20250SB__084399INT INTRODUCED 2025-02-21 2025 SB INT Introduced by Senator Stern LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Stern

An act to amend

Section 34501.5 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. vehicles Vehicles: school pupil transportation: advisory committee. Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to adopt reasonable rules and regulations that, in the judgment of the department, are designed to promote the safe operation of specified vehicles, including, among other vehicles, schoolbuses and commercial motor vehicles. Existing law requires the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to appoint an advisory committee to assist with developing and adopting regulations affecting school pupil transportation.

Existing law specifies appointment of the members of the committee, including, among others, one member employed as a schoolbus driver. This bill would expand the committee to members by including the appointment of members of low-income communities, as specified. MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 34501.5 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 34501.5. (

a) The Department of the California Highway Patrol shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations that, in the judgment of the department, are designed to promote the safe operation of vehicles described in Sections and of the Education Code and Sections and of this code. The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol shall appoint a committee of members to act in an advisory capacity when developing and adopting regulations affecting school pupil transportation buses and school pupil transportation operations. The advisory committee shall consist of members appointed as follows:

(1) One member of the State Department of Education.

(2) One member of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(3) One member of the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(4) One member who is employed as a schoolbus driver.

(5) One member of the Office of Traffic Safety in the Transportation Agency.

(6) Two members who are schoolbus contractors, one of whom shall be from an urban area of the state and one of whom shall be from a rural area of the state, as determined by the department.

(7) Two members who are representatives of school districts, one of whom shall be from an urban area of the state and one of whom shall be from a rural area of the state, as determined by the department.

(8) One professionally licensed member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

(9) One member representing school pupil transportation operations other than schoolbus operations.

(10) Two members of low-income communities, one of whom shall be from an urban area of the state and one of whom shall be from a rural area of the state, as determined by the department. (

b) The department shall cooperate and confer with the advisory committee appointed pursuant to this

section prior to adopting rules or regulations affecting school pupil transportation buses and school pupil transportation operations.