Ch. 420                                    2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 420
(House Bill 358)

AN ACT concerning

Education Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties - School Buses -

Length of Operation

FOR the purpose of altering the length of time a school bus may be operated in certain
counties; repealing the authority to operate a school bus longer than a certain
number of years providing for the termination of this Act; and generally relating
to the length of time a school bus may be operated in certain counties.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Education
Section 7-804

Annotated Code of Maryland
(2001 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Education

7-804.

[(a)](1) Unless EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS
SUBSECTION UNLESS it fails to meet the applicable school bus and motor vehicle
safety standards, a conventional school bus may be operated for [12] 15 years.

(2) IN SOMERSET, WICOMICO, AND WORCESTER COUNTIES, UNLESS IT
FAILS TO MEET THE APPLICABLE SCHOOL BUS AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
STANDARDS, A CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUS MAY BE OPERATED FOR 15 YEARS.

[(b) Notwithstanding the 12-year limitation in subsection (a) (A)(1) of this
section, a conventional school bus may be operated for additional years if:

(1)     The bus is maintained under a preventive maintenance plan
approved by the Motor Vehicle Administration and the Automotive Safety
Enforcement Division of the Department of State Police that includes an inspection at
the end of the 12th year and a minimum of 2 inspections by the Motor Vehicle
Administration each year thereafter;

(2)     Any structural repairs to the bus necessitated by accident, metal
fatigue, or any other cause are certified by an independent expert approved by the
Motor Vehicle Administration to meet or exceed the manufacturer's original
manufacturing standards;

(3)     The bus is equipped with:

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