H. B. 2582

                        (By Delegates Guthrie, Pushkin, Rowe, Sponaugle,

                                                  Byrd L. Phillips, Lynch and Longstreth)

                        [Introduced February 4, 2015; referred to the

                        Committee on Education then Finance.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §17C-15-43a, relating to requiring the State Board of Education to cause school buses to be equipped with safety belts, phased in over a period of five years.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §17C-15-43a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 15. EQUIPMENT.

§17C-15-43a. School buses to be equipped with safety belts.

            Beginning July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education shall install seat belts in school buses over a five year period, until all school buses are outfitted with seat belts, which seat belts shall meet the standards set and approved by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

            NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the State Board of Education to cause school buses to be equipped with safety belts, phased in over a period of five years.

            §17C-15-43a is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.