Wisconsin Legislature: Trans 300.77(1)(b)

Trans 300.73 Wiring. All circuits of the bus shall be protected by a circuit breaker, field effect transistors, or fuse of sufficient rating to handle the current load.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; CR 03-116: am. Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 5-1-04.

Subchapter III—Special Additional Requirements

Trans 300.75 Special service opening.

(1) Every school bus used for transporting persons in wheelchairs shall have an enclosed door opening located on the right side of the vehicle which will permit the use of a ramp or lift.

(2) The door of the special opening shall be equipped with a device to hold it open.

(3) Each door shall have a window.

(4) The opening shall be equipped with material which seals out dirt, water, and fumes.

(5) There shall be a light which illuminates the platform and the area outside the opening.

(6) A drip molding shall be installed to effectively divert water from the opening.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. (6), Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95.

Trans 300.76 Power lift or ramps.

(1) Every school bus transporting persons in wheelchairs shall be equipped with either a power lift or ramp which utilizes the special service opening specified in s. Trans 300.75.

(2) If a school bus uses a ramp it shall have a nonslip material on the surface or may have a metal nonslip surface construction. The ramp shall be in a secured position while the bus is in motion. The ramp shall be at least 30 inches wide on the surface.

(3) A power lift may be of varying design and operation. A lift may be designed to cause only minor vehicle design change other than for the special service opening, or a different design lift may be built to raise or lower through the floor of the vehicle. Each of these designs shall have a minimum lifting capacity of 700 pounds. A label stating that the lift meets this requirement shall be either permanently affixed to the power lift in a visible location or the information may be permanently stamped in a visible location.

(4) The power source and mechanism of the lift shall be enclosed.

(5) The platform of the power lift shall be covered with nonslip material or it may be of nonslip construction. The surface shall be at least 30 inches wide.

(6) Every platform of a power lift shall be designed and constructed to prevent any movement when it is in the stored position. This requirement may be met by either a mechanical locking device or by the internal design of the lift.

(7) The power lift shall be so designed that the operator has positive control to move, stop, or reverse the lift travel at will. In addition, the lift shall be controlled by a limit switch or by-pass valve which will immediately stop the direction of travel upon contact with the ground or a foreign object.

(8) The power lift shall be so designed that the platform does not fall in the event of a power failure.

(9) The platform shall have a device on the curb side to prevent any wheelchair from rolling off when the lift is in any horizontal position other than at ground level.

(10) The power lift shall be designed to prevent the operator or the person being transported from becoming entangled or crushed during the lift operation.

(11) When in the stored position, every power lift or ramp and its associated super structure shall have all exposed sharp edges, corners, and projecting parts padded to prevent injury in the event of contact in an accident. This requirement does not apply to the platform surface but shall apply to the sides of the platform if they are exposed and not concealed by a padded super structure or a padded barrier.

(12) If the lift does not include a padded super structure, the top of the door opening shall be covered with padding at least 2 inches high the entire width of the door opening.

(13) The lift control shall be interlocked with the vehicle brakes, transmission or door, or shall provide other appropriate mechanisms or systems, to ensure that the vehicle cannot be moved when the lift is not stowed and so the lift cannot be deployed unless the interlocks or systems are engaged.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. (1), (3), (11), cr. (12), (13), Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; am. (11), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98.

Trans 300.77 Wheelchair fasteners.

(1) Each wheelchair shall be secured to the bus with a fastening device with sufficient strength to:

(a) Retain the chair in the event the bus overturns.

(b) Prevent the chair from moving.

(2) The fastening device may be either a metal locking unit that secures the wheelchair to the wall or floor or a webbing belt system that accomplishes the same purpose.

(3) No wheelchair may be attached to any door.

(4) A webbing belt system shall be secured to the bus at not less than 2 points. It shall be anchored in the bus frame, body posts or other metal structure. Interior paneling is not considered an adequate anchorage.

(5) A webbing belt used to secure the wheelchair to the body frame may not be used to also secure the passenger to the wheelchair.

(6) School buses manufactured and placed in operation after January 17, 1994, and transporting passengers in wheel chairs shall comply with FMVSS 222, school bus seating and crash protection. The wheel chairs shall be secured in the following manner:

(a) In a forward facing position.

(b) By wheel chair securement devices at 2 locations in the front and 2 locations in the rear.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; cr. (6), Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; am. (4) and (5), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98.

Trans 300.78 Seats and restraints.

(1) Seat frames may be equipped to accept seat belts or other types of restraints.

(2) Every occupant shall be secured to the wheelchair while being transported. This securement shall be separate and in addition to that required in s. Trans 300.77.

(3) Aisle-facing seats in buses transporting wheelchairs are permitted only over the wheel housing provided they are equipped with a device to prevent a passenger from sliding off either end. These seats shall be permanently mounted and may not have a retractable seating surface.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. (3), Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; am. (3), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98.

Trans 300.79 Communications. Every school bus used to transport students in special education or students with disabilities shall comply with the communication requirements found in s. Trans 301.14.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; CR 22-048: am. Register July 2023 No. 811, eff. 8-1-23.

Trans 300.80 Optional equipment. A school bus owner or operator shall use the following procedure to obtain authorization for equipment that is not specifically authorized by this chapter:

(1) Submit an authorization request for equipment installation to the administrator, division of state patrol, P.O. Box 7912, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7912.

(2) Equipment installation may only proceed following receipt of a letter of authorization from the administrator, or designee, of the division of state patrol.

(3) Provide for inspection of the vehicle and equipment if necessary.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95.

Trans 300.81 Authorized optional equipment. The following equipment is approved:

(1) Public address system. A school bus may be equipped with a permanently mounted public address system that allows the driver to communicate directions by voice to students outside the bus. Mounting of any external speakers may not interfere with driver visibility, mirrors or outside lights. Speakers may be mounted under the hood.

(2) Wide angle rear view lens. A school bus may be equipped with a wide angle rear view lens mounted on the upper window of the emergency door. The lens may not cover more than 220 square inches. The lens shall be centered on the window and shall be permanently attached.

(3) Restroom. A restroom facility may be installed at the rearmost section of a school bus. Installation shall meet all statutes and rules related to such installation. The following conditions shall also apply:

(a) The restroom door shall be locked during pupil transportation.

(b) All walls shall be constructed of rigid material.

(d) There may be no sharp edges or protrusions.

(4) Back-up alarm. A school bus may be equipped with a back-up alarm system manufactured in accordance with any federal or state specifications.

(5) Air conditioning units. A school bus may be equipped with air conditioning systems. The system shall be approved by the Wisconsin division of state patrol prior to installation.

(6) Air foil. A school bus may be equipped with a yellow or black air foil system on the top rear. An air foil system shall be mounted so as not to interfere with the visibility of required lights and lettering.

(7) Camera, audio monitor or recording device / computer antenna. A school bus may be equipped with a camera, audio monitor or recording device, or computer antenna subject to the following conditions:

(a) When a device is mounted in the driver’s compartment it shall be located so as to not interfere with movement into and out of step well area. When a camera is placed to view through the windshield it shall not be located to the left of the centerline of the school bus. The camera shall be mounted not more than 2 inches below the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers and located outside the driver’s sight lines to the road, mirrors, highway signs and signals.

(b) The device may not interfere with driver visibility and passenger entrance and aisle.

(c) A device mounted in the rear of the school bus shall not protrude more than 6 inches forward of the rear bulkhead or from the ceiling.

(d) A maximum of two devices may be located near the middle of a school bus, if they do not protrude more than 4 inches and are located no more than 15 inches above the side windows that are not emergency exits, measured from the edge of the window frame directly to the device. The device or devices shall be mounted parallel to a seat back. If flush mounted, the device or devices may be located beyond the 15 inch separation from the side window.

(e) All devices shall be securely fastened and contained within a shatterproof housing. All exposed edges or sharp corners shall be protected or designed to prevent injury upon contact.

(f) External devices shall be contained within a shatterproof housing.

(g) A video display, if utilized, shall be mounted in the driver’s compartment and within or in close proximity to the forward field of view of the driver. It shall not restrict visibility of the driver’s sight lines to the road, mirrors, highway signs and signals, or affect operation of the school bus controls. The video display may be incorporated as part of the interior rear view mirror and display an image when the parking brake is applied, warning lamps are activated, or transmission is in reverse.

(8) Blood-borne pathogen kit. A school bus may be equipped with a blood-borne pathogen kit subject to the following conditions:

(a) The kit shall be mounted or located in the driver’s compartment.

(b) The kit shall be labeled.

(9) Airfoil. A school bus may be equipped with an airfoil designed to reduce the accumulation of snow on the rear of the bus.

(10) Passenger advisory or theft system. A school bus may be equipped with a passenger advisory / theft system as long as the system does not interfere with operation or identification of other school bus standards set forth in this rule.

(11) Navigational device or laptop computer install. A school bus may be equipped with a navigational device that meets the following requirements:

(a) The device is mounted within the driver’s compartment.

(b) The device shall be mounted in a position where it does not obscure the driver’s sight lines to the road, mirrors, highway signs and signals and it may not impede space within the aisle.

(d) The display shall activate for navigational purposes only while the school bus is in motion. Distractive manipulation of the device is prohibited while the school bus is being driven. For the purposes of this section only, driven means operating a commercial motor vehicle, with the motor running, including while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays such as picking up or discharging students. Driven does not include operating a school bus, with or without the motor running, when the school bus is legally stopped or parked upon the highway.

(e) Software programs, if utilized, shall be specific to school bus operations such as, but not limited to, passenger accountability, routing, navigation, emergency notification, tracking, messaging and equipment monitoring.

(f) The device shall be used with due regard to passenger safety. At no time shall operation of this device cause a distraction while operating the school bus.

(12) Additional driver or passenger safety items. A school bus may be equipped with additional safety items such as a seat belt cutter with recessed razor blade, hand sanitizer, and automated external defibrillator or AED. These items shall be kept in the driver’s compartment. Additional items may be authorized upon written approval of the Division of State Patrol.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; am. (1), (3) (c) and (d), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98; CR 03-116: r. and recr. (6) Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 5-1-04; CR 15-069: am. (7) (intro.), r. and recr. (7) (a), am. (7) (b), cr. (7) (c) to (g), (9) to (12) Register April 2016 No. 724, eff. 5-1-16.

Subchapter IV—General Requirements

Trans 300.85 Replacement equipment. Any item of equipment if covered by a standard in this chapter shall, upon replacement, be replaced with an item meeting the original standard. Any modification of a school bus shall be in conformity with state rules in effect at the time of the modification.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83.

Trans 300.86 Enforcement policy.