Gavarone Introduces School Bus Safety Bill

COLUMBUS— State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) introduced Senate Bill 329, which will help keep our children safe on their way to and from school.

"It's critical we prioritize the safety of our kids, especially on the road. According to the State Highway Patrol, they issued 16,000 citations for passing stopped school buses and other school zone violations from 2018 to August of 2023," Gavarone said. "This legislation aims to increase awareness of the law and protect our children."

Senate Bill 329 creates a civil penalty for drivers who illegally pass school buses but are not criminally cited. The civil penalty will be $300, most of which will support school bus safety technology initiatives. $50 from each fine will go towards the school bus safety fund. This fund will support grants to school districts for improving safety features on school buses and help the Department of Education and Workforce educate the public on school bus safety laws.

The legislation also designates August as "School Bus Safety Month" to promote awareness about sharing the roads with school buses as the academic year begins.

Follow Senate Bill 329 here.