Sec. 19. (a) A person who operates a school bus or a special purpose bus shall visually inspect each seat within the interior of the school bus or special purpose bus at the end of a trip during which students or passengers are transported to determine that no student or passenger has remained on the school bus or special purpose bus.

     (b) The visual inspection required under subsection (a) must be conducted:

(1) at the conclusion of each trip during which students or passengers are transported; and

(2) before the operator exits the school bus or special purpose bus.

     (c) A student or passenger is considered to have been left on a school bus or special purpose bus if:

(1) the operator has reached the end of a trip during which students or passengers are transported and exited the school bus or special purpose bus; and

(2) the student or passenger remains inside the school bus or special purpose bus.

     (d) A school bus or special purpose bus owner shall report all instances of a student or passenger being left on the school bus or special purpose bus to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee immediately after the incident occurred.

     (e) The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall report all instances of a student or passenger being left on the school bus or special purpose bus to the department of education not later than five (5) working days after the incident occurred.

As added by P.L.39-2009, SEC.2.