Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 6A-3.003 - Certification as to Specifications of School Buses

(1) Before any manufacturer, distributor or dealer may offer for sale or lease any school bus chassis or bodies to be used for the transportation of students to public schools of Florida, such manufacturer, distributor or dealer shall:

(a) File with the Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations a certified statement that any school bus chassis or body sold by such manufacturer, distributor or dealer will meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards required by section 1006.25(2), F.S., the National School Transportation Specifications & Procedures, May 2015 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-11172), and the Florida School Bus Specifications, effective January 2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14905), all of which are incorporated herein by reference. For information on obtaining copies of the National School Transportation Specifications & Procedures, May 2015 or the Florida School Bus Specifications, January 2023, contact the Director of School Transportation Management, Florida Department of Education, Suite 834, 325 W. Gaines St., Tallahassee, FL 32399.

(b) Submit to the Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations or his/her authorized representative upon request, for the purpose of examination, a demonstrator model, or parts thereof, of each type of chassis or body model to be offered for sale. Such examination shall be for the purpose of ascertaining whether the respective chassis or body model meets the specifications, including quality standards, required by the State Board.

(2) Upon examining the specifications or the demonstrator chassis or body model, the Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations shall maintain a list of each chassis or body model that meets Florida school bus requirements. The Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations or his/her authorized representative shall furnish, upon request, superintendents a list of all chassis and body companies offering equipment for sale in Florida that meets the minimum specifications of the State Board.

(3) Insofar as practicable, the Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations or his/her authorized representative shall make periodic inspection of school bus chassis and bodies delivered to school boards for the purpose of determining if the standards referenced in paragraph (1)(a) of this rule have been met. Should it be determined that any chassis or body delivered to a school board does not meet these standards, including equipment specified, the manufacturer, distributor or dealer shall make satisfactory corrections as prescribed by the Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations or authorized representative. The Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations and the district receiving such equipment shall refuse further approval of bids submitted by the manufacturer, distributor and dealer or representative until satisfactory corrections are made.

(4) Any school district may, at its option, upgrade any school bus or buses with equipment meeting specifications that are current at the time of the upgrade.

(5) A school bus as defined in s. 1006.25, F.S., that is equipped with a school bus infraction detection system as defined in s. 316.003, F.S., and operated in accordance with s. 316.173, F.S., for the purpose of documenting a motor vehicle illegally passing a stopped school bus in violation of s. 316.172(1)(a) or (b), F.S., is subject to the following:

(a) the system shall be comprised of two (2) or more cameras affixed to a school bus that meets all of the following requirements:

1. Is synchronized to automatically record video or one or more sequenced photographs of a vehicle failing to stop for a school bus in violation of s. 316.172(1)(a) or (b), F.S.;

2. Is capable of capturing images of:

a. The left and right side of the school bus documenting a vehicle illegally passing the stopped school bus from either direction beginning when the vehicle is no less than two-hundred (200) feet from the school bus; and

b. The license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

3. Is capable of capturing a record of the following:

a. The date, time and GPS location of the violation;

b. The status of the school bus's eight-way student warning light system at the time of the violation; and

c. The date stamp documenting the latest system self-test conducted on the School Bus Infraction Detection System.

(b) School bus infraction detection systems must perform a self-test no less than once every thirty (30) days and be tested by a licensed technician at least once a year.

(c) The school district shall ensure that images and data recorded by the system will not identify or depict any student unless the student is the operator of a vehicle failing to stop for a school bus in violation of 316.172(1)(a) or (b), F.S.

(6) The Commissioner may approve special equipment differing from, or not prescribed, in Florida School Bus Specifications for the specific purpose of limited pilot testing to determine if such equipment provides substantive improvements in safety or cost-effectiveness. Pilot testing of equipment shall not be approved until the Commissioner has determined, to the extent practical, that the equipment will not compromise safety.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 6A-3.003

Rulemaking Authority 316.173(17), (18), 1001.02(1), 1006.25(2), (4) FS. Law Implemented 316.003, 316.173, 1006.25 FS.

Amended 7-20-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Formerly 6A-3.03, Amended 11-15-94, Amended by Florida Register Volume 43, Number 153, August 8, 2017 effective 8/20/2017, Amended by Florida Register Volume 45, Number 196, October 8, 2019 effective 10/24/2019, Amended by Florida Register Volume 48, Number 218, November 8, 2022 effective 11/23/2022, Amended by Florida Register Volume 49, Number 217, November 7, 2023 effective 11/21/2023.

New 7-20-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Formerly 6A-3.03, Amended 11-15-94, 8-20-17, 10-24-19, 11-23-22, 11-21-23.