State lawmakers consider third effort to require seat belts on school buses

A bill that would require school buses in Washington are equipped with seat belts has been introduced for a third year in Olympia.

Representative Gina Mosbrucker is concerned about the safety of Washington's children, and about the mixed message kids receive when they're not required to wear a restraint on school buses. 

“I’ve had numerous people reach out to me and say, ‘you know, if we’re theoretically safer with seat belts on, on our highways and transportation systems, in moving vehicles, why is that not true on a bus?”

This is the third year that advocates for school bus seat belts will try convincing lawmakers in Olympia of the need for school bus seat belts.

The primary sticking point has been coming up with funding to equip school buses. Mosbrucker says she’s found a way to get the money without affecting local school districts or the state budget.

“So, this bill would be fiscally responsible by the stop paddle violations," Mosbrucker said. "So every time the bus paddle goes out and someone passes it illegally, there is an over $400 ticket. However, we’re not really enforcing that.”

Mosbrucker says revenue from the fines would be more than enough to pay for school bus seat belts and provide additional funds for police to enforce the stop paddle law in local school districts.

House Bill 1057 awaits a hearing in the House Education Committee.

(Story by John Sattgast, edited by Jenna Kochenauer)