School Bus Safety Legislation Moves Forward

After months of seemingly no activity on the school bus safety task force’s recommendations that all new buses have lap-shoulder belts, legislation is being crafted to make that a requirement in Missouri. The School Bus Safety Task Force toiled all summer after a deadly school bus crash in Liberty in May that killed two people and injured 23 students. Representative Tim Flook of Liberty sat on that task force. He says, besides the lap-shoulder belts, his legislation will include a liability waiver in case they’re not used right. Flook says the state will help pay for the $5-Million to $6-Million in upgrades to new buses by charging higher traffic fines. His legislation is at the House Research Division now. He expects it will be done by the end of this week.