CHAPTER 3. STATE SCHOOL BUS COMMITTEE
IC 20-27-3
Chapter 3. State School Bus Committee
IC 20-27-3-1
State school bus committee; members
Sec. 1. (a) The state school bus committee is established. Thecommittee has the following voting members:
(1) The state superintendent or the state superintendent'sauthorized representative, who serves as chairperson of thecommittee.
(2) The commissioner of the bureau of motor vehicles, or thecommissioner's authorized representative.
(3) The administrator of the motor carrier services division ofthe department of state revenue.
(4) The director of the governor's council on impaired anddangerous driving.
(5) A school bus driver appointed by the state superintendentupon the recommendation of the Indiana State Association ofSchool Bus Drivers, Inc.
(6) A superintendent of a school corporation appointed by thestate superintendent upon the recommendation of the IndianaAssociation of Public School Superintendents.
(7) A member of the governing body of a school corporationappointed by the state superintendent upon the recommendationof the Indiana School Boards Association.
(8) A representative of the Indiana School for the Blind andVisually Impaired or the Indiana School for the Deaf appointedby the state superintendent.
(9) A member of the School Transportation Association ofIndiana appointed by the state superintendent upon therecommendation of the School Transportation Association ofIndiana.
(b) The state superintendent shall designate a secretary from thedepartment who shall keep the official record of the meetings and ofofficial transactions of the committee.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.218-2005,SEC.69.
IC 20-27-3-2
Nonvoting members
Sec. 2. (a) The following nonvoting members shall advise thevoting members of the committee:
(1) A member of the Indiana Association of School BusDistributors selected by the executive committee of thatassociation.
(2) A member of the state police department selected by thestate police superintendent.
(3) A member of the Indiana Transportation Associationselected by the executive committee of that association.
(4) A member of the Indiana Township Association selected by
the executive committee of that association.
(5) A school business official appointed by the statesuperintendent upon the recommendation of the IndianaAssociation of School Business Officials.
(b) An individual is not qualified to serve as a nonvoting memberof the committee until proper credentials of the individual'sappointment have been filed with the chairperson of the committee.Each nonvoting member shall be notified of all committee meetingsand may attend each meeting and offer advice to the voting membersof the committee.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-3-3
Meetings
Sec. 3. (a) The committee:
(1) shall hold one (1) regular meeting each month; and
(2) may hold special meetings as the chairperson considersnecessary.
(b) Four (4) voting members of the committee constitute a quorumfor the transaction of official business.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-3-4
Powers; bus driver performance standards; certificate ofinspection
Sec. 4. (a) The committee has the following powers:
(1) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishingstandards for the construction of school buses and specialpurpose buses, including minimum standards for theconstruction of school buses and special purpose busesnecessary to be issued a:
(A) valid certificate of inspection decal; and
(B) temporary certificate of inspection decal described inIC 20-27-7-10.
(2) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishingstandards for the equipment of school buses and special purposebuses, including minimum standards for the equipment ofschool buses and special purpose buses necessary to be issueda:
(A) valid certificate of inspection decal; and
(B) temporary certificate of inspection decal described inIC 20-27-7-10.
(3) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 specifyingthe minimum standards that must be met to avoid the issuanceof an out-of-service certificate of inspection decal.
(4) The committee may provide for the inspection of all schoolbuses and special purpose buses, new or old, that are offered forsale, lease, or contract.
(5) The committee may provide for the annual inspection of allschool buses and special purpose buses and the issuance of
certificate of inspection decals.
(6) The committee may maintain an approved list of schoolbuses and special purpose buses that have passed inspectiontests under subdivision (4) or (5).
(7) The committee may, subject to approval by the state boardof accounts, prescribe standard forms for school bus drivercontracts.
(8) The committee may hear appeals brought underIC 20-27-7-15.
(b) The committee shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to setperformance standards and measurements for determining thephysical ability necessary for an individual to be a school bus driver.
(c) The certificate of inspection decals shall be issued tocorrespond with each school year. Each certificate of inspectiondecal expires on September 30 following the school year in whichthe certificate of inspection decal is effective. However, for busesthat are described in IC 20-27-7-7, the certificate of inspection decalexpires on a date that is not later than seven (7) months after the dateof the first inspection for the particular school year.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.107-2006, SEC.6.
IC 20-27-3-5
Rules; display of school district number on bus
Sec. 5. The committee shall adopt and enforce rules underIC 4-22-2 to require that each new school bus operated by or onbehalf of a school corporation bear the number of the school districton the back of the school bus in black letters that are at least four (4)inches and not more than six (6) inches high.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-3-6
Rules; display of United States flag on bus
Sec. 6. The committee shall adopt and enforce rules underIC 4-22-2 that allow the display of the United States flag on a schoolbus operated by or on behalf of a school corporation. The rules mustprovide that a flag displayed on a school bus may not be placed in amanner that:
(1) obstructs the school bus driver's vision through thewindshield or any other window;
(2) impedes the school bus driver's operation of any equipment;or
(3) distracts the attention of other motorists from the schoolbus's warning lamps or stop signal arm when the school bus isloading or unloading students.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.
IC 20-27-3-7
Standards of construction and equipment
Sec. 7. (a) A school bus or special purpose bus sold or deliveredin Indiana must meet the standards of construction and equipment set
forth in the rules of the committee.
(b) A school bus may not be originally licensed in Indiana untilthe school bus has been inspected by the state police department andfound to comply with these standards.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.107-2006, SEC.7.
IC 20-27-3-8
Violation
Sec. 8. A person who knowingly, intentionally, or recklesslyviolates this chapter commits a Class C misdemeanor.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.231-2005,SEC.35.