House Bill 334

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-41-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO POST SIGNAGE INDICATING THE MAXIMUM SPEED A SCHOOL BUS MAY TRAVEL WHEN TRANSPORTING STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL ON A REGULAR TRANSPORTATION ROUTE AFTER THE ROUTE HAS BEEN FINALIZED BY THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO POST SIGNAGE ON STATE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES INDICATING THE MAXIMUM SPEED A SCHOOL BUS MAY TRAVEL WHEN TRANSPORTING STUDENTS ON AUTHORIZED TRIPS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-41-47, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

31-41-47. (1) It shall be unlawful for a driver of any school bus, whether a public or a contract bus, to drive said bus at a speed greater than forty-five (45) miles per hour while transporting children to and from school on regular routes. However, any such driver, while operating a school bus on other authorized trips, shall not drive said school bus at a speed greater than fifty (50) miles per hour.

(2) (a) Upon making a final determination of regular transportation routes for school buses, the local school board shall inform the local governing authority with jurisdiction over those streets and roadways upon which the regular transportation routes are laid, which shall cause signage to be posted indicating the maximum speed at which a bus may travel while transporting students.

(b) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall post signage indicating the maximum speed at which school buses may travel upon the state public highways and interstate system of this state at any given time while transporting students on authorized trips as provided under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Any person who shall violate the provisions of subsection (1) this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each such offense. In addition thereto, upon such conviction, such driver may be discharged from further employment as a school bus driver or carrier and his contract as such may be terminated.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.