February 25, 2003, Introduced by Rep. Ehardt and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1990 PA 187, entitled
"The pupil transportation act,"
by amending section 11 (MCL 257.1811).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 11. (1) This section and sections 13 to 21 apply to
2 both type I and type II
school buses except where unless
3 specifically provided otherwise.
4 (2) A type I school bus shall have an outside body width of
5 not more than 96 inches,
; an outside overall length of not
6 more than 40 feet,
; and an inside height of not less than 72
7 inches , from
aisle floor surface to ceiling. A type II school
8 bus shall have an outside body width of not more than 96 inches,
9 ; and an inside height of not less than 60 inches ,
from
10 aisle floor surface to ceiling.
11 (3) A bus shall be attached firmly to the chassis. A spacer
1 shall be inserted between the body and the frame at every point
2 of contact so that shearing stresses are not put on rivet heads.
3 (4) A bus floor shall be of metal at least equal in strength
4 to 14-gauge steel and so constructed and maintained that exhaust
5 gases cannot enter the bus. The floor, including wheelhousing,
6 shall be covered and maintained with 1/8-inch smooth rubber or an
7 equivalent as determined by the department of state police. The
8 aisles shall be covered and maintained with 3/16-inch ribbed
9 rubber or an equivalent as determined by the department of state
10 police. The rib-aisle shall continue to the stepwell. Metal
11 longitudinal strips shall be applied to the aisle seams. Floors
12 shall be coved to the walls. All closures between the body and
13 the engine compartment shall be fitted with gaskets which
14 effectively prevent gas from entering the body. The bus body
15 floor, cross members, and skirts shall be completely
16 undercoated. A transmission inspection plate, if any, need not
17 be rubber-covered but shall be firmly attached. Plywood floors
18 are optional.
19 (5) Sedan-type doors shall not be used on type I school
20 buses. When a jackknife-type service door is used, it shall fold
21 forward toward the front of the bus. If a split-type service
22 door is used, it shall open outward. Sedan-type doors may be
23 used on service entrances of type II buses. The steps of a
24 service door entrance shall be covered with 3/16-inch molded
25 ribbed rubber or other nonslip surface.
26 (6) An emergency exit shall be provided as follows:
27 (a) Type I school bus: the upper and lower portion of the
1 central rear emergency door shall be equipped with approved
2 safety glass. The door shall be hinged on the right side and the
3 door handle located on the extreme left. The illuminated door
4 handle assembly shall be constructed so that it will emit a light
5 and sound signal and change from AC to DC current when an
6 emergency situation arises. The signal shall be sufficient to
7 allow a person to locate and determine how to latch and unlatch
8 the emergency door. Piano hinges shall not be used. The handle
9 shall be in the vertical position when latched. A locking device
10 of any kind shall not be attached to, or made a part of, the
11 emergency door unless the locking device meets all of the
12 following criteria:
13 (i) The device is integrated into the ignition system.
14 (ii) The device is tamper resistant.
15 (iii) The device has an audible alarm system.
16 (iv) The device has an audible alarm near the driver's seat
17 that will sound when the door is locked and the ignition is on.
18 (v) The device is approved by the department of state
19 police.
20 (b) Type II school bus: subdivision (a) applies to type II
21 buses except that body gauge metal may be substituted for safety
22 glass in the lower portion of the rear emergency door, and double
23 rear emergency doors may be used. A double rear emergency door
24 shall have a 3-point latch.
25 (7) A bus body shall be lined with fiberglass or a comparable
26 nonsettling, nonabsorbent insulation.
27 (8) Book racks shall not be installed in a school bus.
1 (9) The electrical
system shall be 12 volt D.C. DC provided
2 through an alternator with a minimum of 100 amp rating and a
3 minimum battery storage capacity of 500 CCA with gasoline engine,
4 or 900 CCA with diesel engine provided through 1 12-volt battery,
5 2 12-volt batteries, or 2 6-volt batteries. There shall not be
6 an opening through the floor of the bus to service the battery.