To authorize school districts to install and operate automated school bus safety cameras on school buses to be used for the detection of failure to stop for a school bus. Automated school bus safety cameras may only take pictures of he vehicle and vehicle license plate and only while an infraction is occurring. The picture must not reveal the face of the driver or of passengers in the vehicle.   Official Text and Analysis.

To provide that school districts may decide if and when school buses are taken out of service if the buses are not fitted with automated bus cameras or functional cameras. Revenue collected from infractions detected through the use of automated school bus safety cameras, less the administration and operating costs of the cameras, must be remitted to school districts. The maximum monetary penalty for passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing, which is detected through the use of an automated school bus safety camera, is $394.

Authorizes school districts to install and operate automated school bus safety cameras on school buses to be used for the detection of failure to stop for a school bus. Automated school bus safety cameras may only take pictures of he vehicle and vehicle license plate and only while an infraction is occurring. The picture must not reveal the face of the driver or passengers in the vehicle. This bill also authorizes school districts to decide if and when school buses are taken out of service if the buses are not fitted with automated bus cameras or functional cameras. Revenue collected from infractions detected through the use of automated school bus safety cameras, less the administration and operating costs of the cameras, must be remitted to school districts. The maximum monetary penalty for passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing, which is detected through the use of an automated school bus safety camera, is $394.

Requires a vote of the school district board of directors to approve the use of automated school bus safety cameras before a school district may install and operate the cameras to detect vehicles that fail to stop for a school bus that displays a stop signal; allows the monetary penalty for failure to stop for a school bus that displays a stop signal to be up to twice the amount permitted under the penalty schedule when the infraction is generated by an automated school bus safety camera; and, allows revenue collected from infractions detected through the use of automated school bus safety cameras to be used for infraction enforcement and processing costs incurred by local law enforcement or local courts.

To require automated school bus safety cameras installed on school buses to be inspected and calibrated by a traffic engineer who is not employed or paid by the camera manufacturer or vendor.

To require a school district to determine through a traffic study conducted by a traffic engineer who is not employed or paid by the camera manufacturer or vendor that automated school bus safety cameras are necessary to correct serious safety concerns before a school district may install or operate automated school bus safety cameras.

To authorize school districts to install automated school bus safety cameras on school buses to detect vehicles that fail to stop for a school bus that displays a stop signal if the use of the cameras is approved by a vote of the school district board of directors.

Senate concurred with the House amendments.