Schoolbuses: video monitoring systems.

Existing law requires the driver of any vehicle, upon meeting or overtaking any schoolbus that is stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading any schoolchildren and displaying a flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, to bring the vehicle to a stop immediately before passing the schoolbus and prohibits the driver from proceeding past the schoolbus until the flashing red light signal and stop signal arm cease operation. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a crime. Existing law requires all schoolbuses to be equipped with certain safety features, as specified. This bill would require each schoolbus, school pupil activity bus, youth bus, and child care motor vehicle to be equipped with an internal video system, and would require each schoolbus equipped with a stop signal arm to be equipped with an external video system. The bill would require school officials to monitor these video systems and would require a school official who believes, based on a review of an external video system, a violation of the above-described crime has occurred to notify the local law enforcement agency. By placing additional duties on local educational agencies and local educational agency officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.