Amendment #73 to H4100

Schools Bus Fire Safety

Mr. Michlewitz of Boston moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

SECTION XXXX.  Notwithstanding any General or Special Law to the contrary, the department of public safety is hereby authorized and directed to establish rules and regulations for the safety and flammability of schools buses in the Commonwealth.  Such rules and regulations shall, at a minimum, address the flammability of (i) plastic components contained in the engine compartment and (ii) occupant seating.

In developing said rules and regulations relative to the flammability of plastic components contained in the engine compartment, the department shall ensure that such rules and regulations:

(i) conform with the standards set forth in Underwriters Laboratories incorporated standard 94, "standard for safety of flammability of plastic materials for parts in devices and appliances testing, so-called, as that standard may be modified from time to time, and

(ii) include a requirement that the plastic components contained in an engine compartment must meet a V-0 classification in the standards.

Furthermore, in developing said rules and regulations relative to the flammability of occupant seating, the department shall ensure that any such rules and regulations conform to either of the following:

(i) the standard adopted by ASTM international designated as "ASTM E2574 - standard test method for fire testing of schools bus seat assemblies," using pass-or-fail criteria established in section X3, as the standard may be modified from time, or

(ii) standards adopted by the national congress on school transportation in the "school bus seat upholstery fire block test," as those standards may be modified from time to time, that are established in the national school transportation specifications and procedures.

The Department shall establish a process to set forth said rules and regulations, requiring that, on or after January 1, 2014, no person, school board, municipality, or government entity shall contract for school bus transportation services or purchase a new school bus that is not in compliance with the provision of this section.