Connecticut General Statutes 14-275d – Program for funding to offset sales tax on purchase of school buses equipped with seat safety belts
(a) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall administer a program to provide funding to offset a portion of sales tax on the purchase of school buses equipped with 3-point lap/shoulder seat safety belts installed during the manufacture of such buses. From July 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017, inclusive, a local or regional school district may submit an application to the department, on a form provided by said department, which shall include a proposed agreement between such district and a private carrier under contract with such district for the provision of transportation of school children. Such agreement shall require such carrier to provide the district with at least one but not more than fifty school buses, each of which shall be equipped with such seat belts, and shall include a request by such carrier for funds in an amount equal to fifty per cent of the sales tax paid by the carrier for the purchase of any such bus purchased on or after July 1, 2011. Such agreement shall be contingent upon approval of the application and the payment of such amount by the department. The department shall make any such payments with funds available from the school bus seat belt account established pursuant to subsection (a) of § 14-50b.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 14-275d
- Carrier: means (A) any local or regional school district, any educational institution providing elementary or secondary education or any person, firm or corporation under contract to such district or institution engaged in the business of transporting students, or (B) any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of transporting primarily persons under the age of twenty-one years for compensation. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-212
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Student: means any person under the age of twenty-one years who is attending a preprimary, primary or secondary school program of education. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-212
(b) A school district participating in the program shall provide written notice concerning the availability and proper use of such seat belts to a parent or legal guardian of each student who will be transported on such school bus. A school district shall instruct such students on the proper use, fastening and unfastening of such seat belts.
(c) No local or regional school district, carrier with whom a local or regional school district has contracted for the transportation of students, or operator of a school bus shall be liable for damages for injury resulting solely from a student’s use, misuse or failure to use a seat safety belt installed on a school bus used in the program established under this section.
(d) During the 2018 regular session of the General Assembly, the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation and education shall conduct a joint public hearing on the level of participation in such program and its effectiveness with respect to the use of seat belts. Not later than March 1, 2018, the joint standing committees shall make a recommendation to the General Assembly concerning the continuation of such program.