On Wednesday, the Senate Transportation Committee heard legislation authored by Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater) that provides necessary funding for school bus stop-signal arm camera systems. This bipartisan issue has been discussed in previous legislative sessions.

“No parent should have to worry about their kid’s safety when they’re getting on and off a school bus,” said Housley. “Last biennium, the Legislature passed funding to equip school buses with arm cameras, and so far, 7,000 out of our 12,000 school buses have been successfully equipped. My bill will ensure we install cameras on the remaining buses so we can keep kids safe across the state.”

When buses are equipped with outward-facing stop-arm cameras, bus drivers can submit claims with video evidence when drivers are ignoring stop arm laws or engaging in negligent driving that puts kids at risk.

The bill was laid over for potential inclusion in the Transportation Committee’s budget bill.