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BILL: HB 134
DATE: February 14, 2025
POSITION: Favorable with Amendments
COMMITTEE: House Environment & Transportation Committee
CONTACT: Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director, PSSAM
The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), on behalf of all twenty-four local school superintendents, supports HB 134 with amendments.
This bill requires every school bus purchased on or after July 1, 2027, and registered in the State to be equipped with, for each seat on the school bus, three-point seat belts that are accessible to passengers. Local school systems must provide student instruction on school bus safety and the proper use of seat belts on school buses, as part of an existing program of safety education. The failure of a school bus operator to ensure that an occupant of a school bus was wearing a seat belt may not be the basis of a civil action for damages against the school bus operator or a school, school district, or municipality. As under current law, “seat belt” is defined as any belt, strap, harness, or like device. The bill also makes various technical changes to terminology.
PSSAM appreciates the intent of House Bill 134 and the sponsors’ concern for the safety and well-being of students on school buses. The safe transportation of our students is a top priority for all local superintendents. PSSAM is pleased to support this bill with amendments to be presented by the sponsor that do the following:
1. Remove liability from bus drivers.
3. Make the bill prospective for purchases of new school buses starting in fiscal year 2029.
5. Clarification on the type of seat belt.
While we still believe that school buses are almost 40 times safer than any other form of ground transportation in preventing serious injury or death**, we understand that the installation of seat belts on buses is a matter of when, not if, and, we appreciate the sponsor’s willingness to work with school systems to mitigate the financial and operational impact of changing our bus fleet.
We particularly want to thank the sponsor for taking our concerns seriously regarding student behavior on school buses. Although we implement numerous strategies and procedures to lessen the chance of inappropriate action on the part of students, this can be a difficult task in addition to ensuring each student is buckled and sitting in their seat for the entire ride.
Therefore, PSSAM supports House Bill 134 with amendments crafted by the sponsor and urges a favorable with amendments committee report.
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