SECTION 1. Section 7B of chapter 90 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2018 official edition, is hereby amended by adding after criteria (18) the following:- "(19) Every school bus transporting students to or from a public, vocational, private or parochial school shall be equipped with a seatbelt for each permanent seating accommodation designed and installed in compliance with United States motor vehicle D.O.T. safety standards."
SECTION 2. A city or town may enact a local ordinance or bylaw requiring that school buses operating within the municipality must be equipped with seatbelts at an earlier implementation date.
SECTION 3. No claim for damages shall arise from the failure of a school bus operator, a school, school district or municipality to ensure that a passenger of a school bus was wearing the restraint system prescribed by Sections 7B of Chapter 90 of the general laws.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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