State leaders are taking dramatic action after 7 Action News exposed the problem of dangerously overcrowded school buses.
“We are going to change the law,” said Rep. Adam Zemke, (D-Ann Arbor).
He says after seeing pictures of as many as six children packed into one 39-inch seat he was outraged that under current law it is allowed. In response to stories on 7 Action News, he is drafting a change in legislation.
The Pupil Transportation Act passed in 1990 leaves schools with no restrictions on how many kids can be on board a school bus for the first four weeks of school. Zemke wants it thrown out.
It was passed to give schools time to adjust to enrollment changes as the new year starts while keeping costs low.
“The concern was the bus would be full, and there would still be a couple kids at the side of the road. The concern was leaving those kids at the side of the road until another bus came along,” said Ken Micklash, State Director of Pupil Transportation.
Rep. Zemke says it appears to have been abused by school districts.
“It doesn’t matter if it is the end of the school year, or the beginning of the school year. Buses should always be safe,” said Rep. Zemke. “Parents should always know when they put their child on that bus, the bus is not going to be filled beyond the manufacturer’s recommendation.
School leaders have said cuts in funding have them watching every penny, decreasing transportation services.
“Well, if they can’t get kids to school safely, they probably shouldn’t transport them, period,” said Rep. Zemke.
Under the law kids could still be packed three to a seat, most manufacturer's capacity limit. Parents of middle and high school students say that is unreasonable. That kids take up more than 13 inches each on the seat in most cases. They say when at capacity, older kids are hanging into the aisle, or forced to sit on floors.
Rep. Zemke says he also supports a proposed seat belt law that would require kids wear seat belts on buses. He says school districts and bus companies should not be transporting more kids than fit in seats wearing safety belts.
