SB322: SB322 State Board of Education; include instruction in the proper use of a school bus passenger restraint system within its program of safety instruction; require

Georgia law currently requires the State Board of Education to run a safety program for school bus riders, covering things like evacuation drills, but it does not require buses to have passenger restraint systems (seat belts or lap-and-shoulder restraints) or require students to use them. This bill changes that. Starting July 1, 2027, newly manufactured school buses used in Georgia would have to be equipped with passenger restraint systems for every seat based on the bus's maximum capacity, and the State Board of Education would have to require each student to wear one while the bus is moving. Bus drivers would be responsible for checking that students are buckled in before driving, though parents would not be liable if a child fails to comply. Students with a documented physical or medical condition preventing safe restraint use would be exempt. The bill also adds restraint-system instruction to the state's existing bus safety program and lets the State Board set penalties for school systems that don't maintain the required equipment.

• Adds instruction on properly using a school bus passenger restraint system to the State Board of Education's existing safety training program (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-188).
• Defines 'passenger restraint system' as a seat belt or lap-and-shoulder restraint meeting specific federal safety standards (O.C.G.A. § 40-8-111).
• Requires, starting July 1, 2027, that newly manufactured school buses be equipped with a restraint system for every seat up to the bus's passenger capacity.
• Requires students to wear a restraint system while the bus is moving, and makes the bus driver responsible for checking compliance before driving, while shielding parents from liability.
• Exempts students with a documented physical or medical condition, certified in writing by a licensed healthcare provider, from the restraint requirement.
• Allows the State Board of Education to penalize school systems that fail to keep required safety equipment in good working order.

Public school students who ride school buses, school bus drivers, local public school systems responsible for bus maintenance and penalties, parents and guardians of bus riders, and the State Board of Education, which must update training programs and set rules.

If enacted, Georgia school buses would eventually need seat belts or similar restraints, and students would be required to wear them, changing daily bus routines for drivers and students. School districts would face new equipment costs and possible penalties for noncompliance starting in 2027.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-188 to require the State Board of Education's mandatory school bus safety program to include instruction on proper use of passenger restraint systems.
• Section 2 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 40-8-111 to define 'passenger restraint system' as either a type 2 seat belt or a type 2 lap-and-shoulder restraint meeting named federal safety standards.
• Section 2 requires that, on and after July 1, 2027, newly manufactured school buses be equipped with restraint systems for every seat and that students wear them while the bus is in motion.
• Section 2 makes the bus driver responsible for confirming each child is restrained before driving and specifies parents are not liable for a child's failure to comply.
• Section 2 exempts students with a certified physical or medical condition from the restraint requirement.
• Section 2 allows the State Board of Education to penalize school systems that fail to maintain required safety equipment and directs the board to issue implementing rules.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-04Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-03-03Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)Primary sponsor
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)

• school bus safety
• seat belts on school buses
• student transportation
• education law