Specifications for New School Buses

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:
6A-3.0291Specifications for New School Buses

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 38, No. 71, November 14, 2012 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.

Rule 6A-3.0291 is amended to read as follows:

(1) New sSchool buses purchased each year shall conform to current National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures May 2010 of the National Congress on School Transportation (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02244) which are hereby incorporated by reference, current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and to specifications prescribed by the State Board for body, chassis and special equipment as provided in Section 1006.25, Florida Statutes. Each school bus as defined by Section 1006.25(1), Florida Statutes, shall meet the requirements of the Florida School Bus Specifications, Revised 2013 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02024) which are hereby incorporated by reference applicable for the year the bus was manufactured or the previous year if specifications were not revised and approved for a given year. Specifications shall incorporate the specific standards as approved by the State Board prior to and including the following years: 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 revised.  Copies of the Florida School Bus Specifications and the  National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures May 2010 of the National Congress on School Transportation may be obtained by contacting above specifications are on file and available from the School Transportation Management Section, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399. Specifications may vary for different sizes and types of buses to meet specific needs and conditions. Bid forms prepared under the direction of the Commissioner shall incorporate basic specifications and equipment.

(2) Any school district may, at its option, upgrade any school bus or buses with equipment meeting specifications which are current at the time of the upgrade.

(3) The Commissioner Chief Financial Officer may approve special equipment differing from or not prescribed in Florida School Bus Specifications for the specific purpose of limited pilot testing to determine if such equipment provides substantive improvements in safety or cost effectiveness. Pilot testing of equipment shall not be approved until the Commissioner Chief Financial Officer has determined to the extent practical that the equipment will not compromise safety.

Rulemaking Authority 1006.25 FS. Law Implemented 1006.22, 1006.25 FS. History–Amended 9-17-72, 7-20-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 11-10-83, 3-28-84, 10-8-84, 10-8-85, Formerly 6A-3.29, Amended 8-19-86, 9-30-87, 10-4-88, 12-11-89, 12-18-90, 11-10-92, 9-5-93, 11-15-94, 10-18-95, Formerly 6A-3.029, Amended 6-11-00, Formerly 6-3.029, Amended 4-21-03, 2-22-05, 11-26-06, 7-21-08,

Cf. Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, January 1965; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, Chassis – 1966; Body – 1966; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, January 1966; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1968; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1969; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1970; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1971; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1972; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1973; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, November 1974; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, January 1975; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, Chassis – October 1976; Body – October 1976, No Type A; No Exceptional Child; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, Body, Chassis, Type A, and Exceptional Child, March 1977; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1978; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, Amended, 1979; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, November 1980; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1982; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1983; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, January 1984; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, September 1984; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, September 1985; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, July 1986; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, October 1987; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1988; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1989; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1990; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1992; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1993; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 1995; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 2000; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 2002; Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 2004; Florida School Bus Specification Revised, 2006, Florida School Bus Specifications Revised, 2008.