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LOGAN INTRODUCES ‘NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND’
LEGISLATION
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Logan |
MONROEVILLE,
February 2 –
State Sen. Sean Logan
(D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) today announced
plans to introduce his version of
legislation ensuring that no child is left
behind – on a school bus.
The Logan bill would also toughen
penalties against school bus drivers who
drive under the influence of alcohol or
drugs.
“We have seen way too many incidents of
children being left behind on a school bus,”
Logan said. “It is time to institute harsh
penalties for those drivers who fail to
check the bus for a child. “One cannot
possibly imagine how scared that child is
when he or she misses their stop and does
not see any adult or recognize their
surroundings. It could be very traumatic.
My bill would help curb these incidents by
penalizing drivers who fail to take that
extra step to ensure that every child is off
the bus.”
Logan’s legislation would mandate that the
State Board of Education implement
regulations outlining a procedure that every
school bus driver must go through to ensure
that no child is left behind on a school
bus. A driver who leaves a child behind
would face a summary offense. The first
offense would be punishable by a fine up to
$300 and a loss of school bus endorsement
operating privileges for 30 days; a second
offense would be a fine between $300 and
$1,000 and loss of school bus endorsement
operating privileges for 60 days; and a
third offense would be a fine between $1,000
and $1,500 and revocation of school bus
endorsement operating privileges.
The Logan bill would also increase the
penalties for a driver who operates a school
bus under the influence of drugs or
alcohol. The legislation would make the
penalties for a first offense no less than
30 days in jail and a fine of between $5,000
and $10,000; a second offense would be no
less than 90 days in jail and a fine of
between $7,500 and $15,000; a third offense
would be no less than one year in jail and a
fine between $10,000 and $20,000; and a
fourth and subsequent offense would be no
less than five years in jail and a fine
between $15,000 and $25,000. The school bus
driver would also face the loss of vehicle
operating privileges for two years.
“The continued safety of our children is of
the utmost importance and the ultimate goal
of this legislation,” Logan said. “We need
to have the peace of mind that the drivers
responsible for taking our children to
school are trustworthy individuals and this
bill will undoubtedly send a strong message
to wayward bus drivers.”
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