NATIONAL COALITION OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY NEWS 2007

Bus Bill Rolls Sans Funding
June 3, 2007

Legislation is advancing at the State Capitol to prevent the type of school bus accident that recently killed a 5-year-old Baton Rouge boy.

However, lawmakers have yet to find the money to fund the measure.

Rep. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, wants to make sure school buses are equipped with a safety device that forces children to walk far enough in front of the bus to remain in the driver’s field of view.

Walsworth’s legislation, House Bill 157, cleared the House and is now before a Senate committee.

The bill would require school districts to equip buses with safety arms by Jan. 1.

Walsworth tried unsuccessfully Thursday to persuade the House to add money to the $29.6 billion state budget bill to retrofit 2,000 buses.

The budget’s sponsor, Rep. John Alario, objected to the addition.

Alario, D-Westwego, said Friday that Walsworth should have asked for the money sooner in the legislative process. He said Walsworth failed to approach the Appropriations Committee before the budget moved to the floor.

“Mr. Walsworth probably needs to do a better job of lobbying state funds for it,” Alario said.

Walsworth said the Blanco administration has suggested to him that the money could come out of the additional $40 million in basic state aid proposed for public schools.

“I really do believe they’re going to find a way to put that money in there,” he said.

Alario is not a fan of that idea.

He said the school aid is probably going to have to be bumped up as it is.

Cheryl Michelet, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education, said school districts use the aid as they see fit.

“Most districts are struggling with increasing insurance, retirement and gasoline costs, and this will be one more expense that they’ll have to figure out how to pay for,” she said.

The safety devices pivot from the right side of the front bumper, and don’t allow children to walk directly in front of a school bus.

Buses acquired by school districts after Jan. 1, 1996, are required by state law to have the devices.

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