131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 62 LR 374(02)
An Act to Require Antipinch Sensors on School Bus Doors
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Transportation
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund
Potential future biennium cost increase - Local school administrative units
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Requiring all school buses manufactured in calendar year 2025 or after be equipped with technology to prevent the door from closing on a person's limb or other body part may result in future increased costs to local school administrative units (SAU's) that purchase the newer model buses and to the State for increased subsidy amounts paid to SAU's approved to purchase a bus through the School Bus Purchase Program.  The cost to equip a school bus with this technology cannot be estimated at this time.
SAU's that are approved to purchase a new school bus through the School Bus Purchase Program receive funding from the State as part of their total subsidy to partially offset the cost of a new bus. The amount of subsidy is a set amount that is determined by the Office of Procurement Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and is based on bids from vendors that meet the minimum state specifications for school buses.  This fiscal note assumes that the additional cost of equipping school buses with this technology will be added to the subsidy amounts provided by the State.  Those SAU's that purchase buses outside of the School Bus Purchase Program will be responsible for 100% of the additional cost.