Bill Summary for H 233 (2015-2016)

Printer-friendly: Click to view

Summary date: 

Mar 12 2015

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2015-2016 Session
House Bill 233 (Public) Filed Thursday, March 12, 2015
AN ACT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL METHODS FOR PROVING THAT A STOPPED VEHICLE PASSED BY ANOTHER MOTOR VEHICLE IS A "SCHOOL BUS" SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF G.S. 20-217, AND TO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATED CAMERA AND VIDEO RECORDING SYSTEMS ON SCHOOL BUSES.
Intro. by Lambeth, Hanes.

View: All Summaries for BillTracking:

Bill summary

Amends GS 20-217(b) to include criteria that are considered prima facie evidence that a vehicle was a school bus at the time of a violation of GS 20-217(a), passing a stopped school bus. This criteria includes (1) a certified copy of a record from the DMV showing the vehicle was registered as a school bus at the time of the violation and (2) testimony from the school bus driver, a passenger on the school bus, or the law enforcement officer investigating the violation. Deletes language that stated that the provisions of the statute only applied if the school bus had a plainly visible sign with the words "school bus" on the front and back of the bus. 

Appropriates $700,000, from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction in nonrecurring funds for the 2015-16 fiscal year to provide grants to local boards of education for the purpose of purchasing and installing automated camera and video recording systems on school buses. Requires the Department of Public Instruction to develop a policy to prioritize the allocation of funds. Requires money received as a grant  to be matched on the basis of $1 in grant funds for every $2 in nongrant funds. Matching funds cannot be other state funds. Requires evidence of matching funds before a grant can be provided. Requires the Department of Public Instruction to develop guidelines and procedures for the administration and distribution of grants.  Effective July 1, 2015.

Unless otherwise noted above, effective October 1, 2015, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.