The Senate Committee on the Judiciary met Wednesday afternoon to discuss school bus safety bill.
Senate Bill 238 would increase the penalties for passing stopped school buses and provide for the installation of forward-facing cameras on new school buses to aid in enforcement of this section. The proposed legislation comes from an increase in drivers passing stopped school busses.
Fine increases for passing a stopped school bus would include:
- First conviction would increase the minimum to $500 and the maximum to $1,000.
- Second conviction would increase the minimum to $1,000 and the maximum to $1,500
- Third conviction would increase to a $2,000 fine
The Committee adopted an amendment by Senator Rucker to add a preamble to honor Haven McCarthy who was killed while getting off a stopped school bus in Lincoln County in 2007.
Senate Bill 511 is closely related to the Nonintoxicating Beer Act that was passed by the Committee on Tuesday; except this bill relates to wine. It would revise certain wine code sections to permit wine alternating wine proprietorships as permitted under federal law, and clarify wine sampling procedures for wineries and farm wineries up to two fluid ounces at certain fairs and festivals along with wine bottle sales for off-premises consumption only.
Senate Bill 547 would encourage landowners to make land available for recreational purposes by limiting land owner liability. The bill would protect landowners who offer their land for recreational activities from being liable for injuries of people on their property.
All three bills were approved by the Committee, and will be reported to the full Senate to be voted upon.
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