HR7204-119

What This Bill Does

The School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Camera Act creates both a federal study and a grant program. The FMCSA Administrator, coordinating with NHTSA, must study the benefits of requiring school buses in the United States to be equipped with stop-arm safety cameras. Within one year, both agencies must publish study findings and recommendations on public websites. Required best-practice topics include data management and privacy safeguards, data sharing with law enforcement for fair adjudication of alleged traffic violations, and fee and revenue sharing structures that make programs financially self-sustaining while advancing student safety. Within 18 months, the Transportation Secretary must establish a grant program to increase school bus stop-arm camera use. Grants go to State educational agencies and can fund purchase of camera-equipped school buses, adding cameras to existing buses, and installation, maintenance, and repair of stop-arm safety camera technology.

Who Benefits and How

Students boarding or leaving school buses, school districts, State educational agencies, school bus operators, parents, and student safety advocates benefit from federal study, best-practice guidance, and grants for stop-arm safety cameras. Law enforcement agencies benefit from clearer data-sharing practices for fair adjudication of alleged illegal passing. Stop-arm camera vendors and school bus manufacturers may benefit from federally supported purchases and retrofits.

Who Bears the Burden and How

FMCSA, NHTSA, DOT grant staff, State educational agencies, school districts, and school bus fleet managers must conduct the study, publish guidance, apply for grants, procure cameras or buses, install and maintain equipment, and manage privacy and data-sharing rules. Drivers accused of stop-arm violations may be affected by camera evidence and adjudication systems. Camera programs must structure fees and revenue sharing carefully to support student safety rather than unfair enforcement incentives.

Key Provisions

• Requires FMCSA and NHTSA to study school bus stop-arm safety camera benefits.
• Requires public findings and best-practice recommendations within one year.
• Requires recommendations on privacy, data management, law-enforcement data sharing, fair adjudication, and fee or revenue structures.
• Requires DOT to establish a grant program within 18 months.
• Allows State educational agency grants for camera-equipped buses, existing-bus camera retrofits, installation, maintenance, and repair.