05-071 C.M.R. ch. 86, § 3 - Minimum Specifications for School Buses

Current through 2022-14, April 6, 2022

1. The Department adopts the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015 as enacted by the 16th National Congress on School Transportation and with some exceptions specific to Maine. The following exceptions apply:

A. Bus body and chassis specifications, color, section C of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015.

(1) Roof color exception: a white roof on a school bus is not a state school bus specification.

B. Bus body and chassis specifications, heating and air conditioning systems, section B of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015.

(1) Air conditioning exception: air conditioning on a school bus is not a state school bus specification.

C. Operational procedures, local school districts, in-use capacity of a school bus, section C.1, paragraph 4 of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015.

(1) Overloading exception: overloading a school bus is prohibited.

D. Operational procedures, selection and training of bus drivers, section C.6 of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015.

(1) Crossing exception: procedures for escorted crossing are not a state school bus specification.

E. Activity Bus Operations, Transportation Other Than To and From School or Head Start, section A.1.c.VI of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015.

(1) Activity bus operation exception: replace with 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 395.5.

F. Appendix B, School Bus Body and Chassis Specifications of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015.

(1) School bus body and chassis exception: a white roof on a school bus is not a state school bus specification.

G. Appendix D, Recommended Procedures for Escorted Crossing, all sections of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015.

(1) Escorted crossing exception: procedures for escorted crossing are not a state school bus specification.

2. The following regulations are in addition to the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures 2015:

A. Onboard video systems (also known as surveillance cameras) with a minimum of four cameras and continuous recording shall be installed on the inside of all new school buses.

B. School bus seat restraint (also known as seat belts) installation shall be a local decision except when federal mandated seat restraint installation is required on specific school bus types. If a SAU chooses to install seat restraints, the Department recommends three-point lap-shoulder belts.

Notes

05-071 C.M.R. ch. 86, § 3