SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2671        FILED ON: 2/13/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2611

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joanne M. Comerford

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting passenger safety on motorcoaches.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2671        FILED ON: 2/13/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2611

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act promoting passenger safety on motorcoaches.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Mobile telephone” the following definition:-

“Motorcoach”, a bus characterized by an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment, which transports passengers for hire as a business between fixed and regular termini or under a charter license. The term “motorcoach” shall not include city buses operated by a public transit system or school buses.

SECTION 2. Section 13A of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “vanpool vehicle”, in lines 2 and 3, the following word:- , motorcoach

SECTION 3. Said section 13A of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting before the word “buses”, in line 22, the following words:- standard city.

SECTION 4. Said section 13A of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

The operator of a motorcoach service shall include in its ticket purchase agreement a provision stating that the passenger agrees to wear a seatbelt when seated while the motorcoach is in motion. The operator of a motorcoach service shall require its drivers to make an announcement to the passengers prior to the motorcoach’s departure instructing the passengers to wear seatbelts when seated while the motorcoach is in motion.

SECTION 5. The department of public utilities shall conduct a public information campaign to educate the public on the importance of wearing a seatbelt while riding in a motorcoach, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, and the safety risks of not wearing a seatbelt on a motorcoach.