PA Lawmaker Seeks To Boost School Bus Safety

HARRISBURG, PA — A state lawmaker is preparing to introduce legislation he believes will bolster the safety of students on school buses.

The upcoming bill from state Rep. Jose Giral, a Philadelphia Democrat, would require all school buses to be equipped with a video monitoring system that includes an internal camera positioned so that every seat is visible. The bill also would mandate that school buses be equipped with either an external camera or an internal camera positioned outward so that the road ahead can be seen.

In a memo to colleagues seeking support for the measure, Giral contended that while school buses should serve as safe havens from a vast array of potential threats, the behavior of other drivers and bullying peers can compromise that safety. He asserted that students should not have their mental health or physical safety to get a quality education.

"While we cannot protect our children every second of the day, we can stand behind technology that will make bad actors think twice before endangering other students and drivers on the road," Giral stated.