(1) Upon receipt of a qualifying application and payment of any fee required, the Department of Transportation shall issue a permit that will allow the use of bus safety lights described in ORS § 816.260 on any bus that is operated by a religious organization while the bus is being used to transport children to and from religious services or an activity or function authorized by the religious organization.

(2) The department shall adopt rules necessary to carry out this section. The department:

(a) May establish standards for application for a permit under this section.

(b) May require a fee for issuance of a permit under this section as provided under ORS § 818.270.

(c) May provide for the revocation of a permit if the lights are used in circumstances not described in this section.

(d) Shall adopt rules for operation of lights under a permit issued under this section. The standards adopted under this paragraph shall require the lights to be operated in a manner similarly to the manner for operation of the same lights on school buses.

(e) Shall require, before issuance of a permit under this section, that the vehicle be equipped with both alternately flashing amber bus safety lights and alternately flashing red bus safety lights. [1983 c.338 § 541]