S 2861

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3174  FILED ON: 9/3/2025
  SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2861
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _________________
  PRESENTED BY:
  Paul W. Mark
  _________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
   Court assembled:
   The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
  An Act creating a special commission to examine school bus safety.
  _______________
  PETITION OF:
NAME:  DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Paul W. Mark  Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
  Hampshire
Lindsay N. Sabadosa  1st Hampshire  12/9/2025
Joanne M. Comerford  Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester  1/27/2026
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  SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3174  FILED ON: 9/3/2025
  SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2861
By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2861) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of
Paul W. Mark and Lindsay N. Sabadosa for legislation to create a special commission to
examine school bus safety. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
An Act creating a special commission to examine school bus safety.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1SECTION 1. There shall be a special commission governed by section 2A of chapter 4 of
2 the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, to assess and recommend updates to
3 the school bus safety standards set forth in section 7B of chapter 90 of the General Laws, and the
4 licensing and training requirements for school bus operators as set forth in section 8A of said
5 chapter. The commission shall consider whether such updates should include, but not be limited
6 to, the incorporation of safety sensors, additional school bus monitors, enhanced operator
7 training, and other equipment or operational standards necessary to ensure the safety of students,
8 while on the bus and during boarding, disembarking, and waiting at bus stops.
9The commission shall file its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of
10 legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, with the clerks of the senate
11 and the house of representatives, the chairs of the senate and house committees on public service
12 and the chairs of the joint commission on education not later than December 1, 2026.
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13The commission shall consist of 1 member who shall be appointed by the senate
14 president, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member who shall be appointed by the minority leader
15 of the senate; 1 member who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives,
16 who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
17 house of representatives; the commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary
18 Education or a designee; the commissioner of the Department of Public Health or a designee; 1
19 member to be appointed by each of the following organizations: Massachusetts Association of
20 School Superintendents, Massachusetts School Bus Contractors Association, Massachusetts
21 Association of Pupil Transportation, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Massachusetts Parent
22 Teacher Association.
23SECTION 2. This act shall be known as “Summers Law”.
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