AB311: Bill Text

LRB-3507/1

EVM:cdc

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 311

June 27, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Hintz, Kerkman, L. Myers, Zamarripa, Vruwink, Mursau, Kolste, Gruszynski, Ballweg, Thiesfeldt, Sinicki, Skowronski, Spreitzer, Neubauer, Considine, Bowen, Ohnstad, Spiros, Subeck, Ramthun, Milroy, Shankland, Cabrera, Vining and Stubbs, cosponsored by Senators Shilling, Roth, Wirch, Schachtner, Smith, Hansen, Jacque, L. Taylor, Olsen, Bernier, Ringhand and Larson. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB311,1,3 An Act to repeal 346.48 (2) (b), 346.48 (2) (bm), 346.48 (3) and 349.21; and to amend 346.48 (2) (a) 1. and 346.48 (2) (a) 2. (intro.) of the statutes; relating to: use of school bus warning lights.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law generally requires the driver of a vehicle approaching a school bus that is stopped on a highway and that is displaying flashing red lights to stop the vehicle not less than 20 feet from the bus and to remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the school bus driver turns off the flashing red lights. Current law also requires, with certain exceptions, a school bus driver to activate flashing red lights at or before loading or unloading pupils and to extinguish the lights only after loading or unloading is completed and any person who must cross the highway is safely across. Under one exception to the latter rule, a school bus driver may not activate the flashing red lights when loading or unloading in a special loading area where the bus is entirely off the traveled portion of the highway. Under another exception, the school bus driver may not activate the flashing red lights when loading or unloading in a residence or business district where a sidewalk and curb are laid on both sides of the road, unless there is no traffic signal where the loading or unloading occurs, the person being loaded or unloaded must cross the highway, and a local ordinance authorizes the use of warning lights under these circumstances.

The bill removes the prohibitions against the use of flashing red lights in a special school bus loading area and in a residence or business district where a sidewalk and curb are laid on both sides of the road.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB311,1 Section 1. 346.48 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB311,2,6 346.48 (2) (a) 1. Except as provided in par. (b), the The operator of a school bus equipped with only flashing red warning lights as specified in s. 347.25 (2) shall actuate the lights at least 100 feet before stopping to load or unload pupils or other authorized passengers, and shall not extinguish the lights until loading or unloading is completed and persons who must cross the highway are safely across.

AB311,2 Section 2. 346.48 (2) (a) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB311,2,11 346.48 (2) (a) 2. (intro.) Except as provided in par. (b), the The operator of a school bus equipped with flashing red and amber warning lights as specified in s. 347.25 (2) shall do all of the following when stopping to load or unload pupils or other authorized passengers:

AB311,3 Section 3. 346.48 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB311,4 Section 4. 346.48 (2) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.

AB311,5 Section 5. 346.48 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB311,6 Section 6. 349.21 of the statutes is repealed.

AB311,2,16 (End)