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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives gave final passage Wednesday to SB40, which requires school buses that carry 11 or more children have two safety inspections a year and also be subject to random inspections.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, applies to school districts, charter schools, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind and private schools.
Under SB40, each bus will be inspected by their school entities and undergo safety and emissions inspections. Twenty percent of school buses statewide will also be subject to random inspections in the spring, Harper said in previous debate.
The legislation is largely a clarifying measure but helps ensures the safety of Utah schoolchildren transported by bus, said Rep. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns, who carried the bill in the House.
In an earlier committee hearing, Harper said inspectors find deficiencies in nearly one-fifth of school buses statewide during inspections conducted before the start of the school year.
The bill, which received unanimous support in the Senate, was approved by the House on a vote of 74-0.
— Marjorie Cortez
