PURPOSE: The State Board of Education is required by law to adopt and enforce regulations for the design of all school buses used for the transportation of schoolchildren when owned and operated by any school district or privately-owned and operated under contract with any school district in this state. This rule establishes the minimum requirements for the design of chassis and body used for school buses in the transportation of pupils.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The secretary of state has determined that the publication of the entire text of the material which is incorporated by reference as a portion of this rule would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. This material as incorporated by reference in this rule shall be maintained by the agency at its headquarters and shall be made available to the public for inspection and copying at no more than the actual cost of reproduction. This note applies only to the reference material. The entire text of the rule is printed here.

1. (1) The Missouri Minimum Standards for School Buses (revised September 2019) is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule as published by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Financial and Administrative Services, 205 Jefferson Street, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480, and its website at https://dese.mo.gov/ financial-admin-services/student-transportation/school-busstandards and at https://dese.mo.gov/governmental-affairs/ dese-administrative-rules/incorporated-reference-materials. This rule does not incorporate any subsequent amendments or additions. The Missouri Minimum Standards for School Buses reflects the changing needs of pupil transportation in Missouri, changes in the national specifications for school buses, and federal motor vehicle safety standards. The changes will enhance the safety of schoolchildren being transported in school buses.

AUTHORITY: section 161.092, RSMo 2016, and section 304.060, RSMo Supp. 2019.* This rule was previously filed as 5 CSR 40- 261.025. Original rule filed Feb. 23, 1981, effective Oct. 1, 1981. Amended: Filed Sept. 22, 1983, effective Feb. 15, 1984. Amended: Filed Oct. 29, 1986, effective March 1, 1987. Emergency amendment filed Sept. 21, 1990, effective Oct. 1, 1990, expired Jan. 28, 1991. Amended: Filed Sept. 21, 1990, effective March 14, 1991. Amended: Filed Dec. 21, 1992, effective July 8, 1993. Amended: Filed April 24, 1996, effective Dec. 30, 1996. Amended: Filed Nov. 20, 1996, effective May 30, 1997. Amended Filed March 21, 2001, effective Oct. 30, 2001. Amended: Filed May 30, 2006, effective Jan. 30, 2007. Amended: Filed Sept. 22, 2008, effective May 30, 2009. Amended: Filed April 20, 2012, effective Dec. 30, 2012. Amended: Filed Nov. 2, 2016, effective June 30, 2017. Amended: Filed Sept. 24, 2019, effective May 30, 2020. *Original authority: 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2014 and 304.060, RSMo 1949, amended 1977, 1987, 1992, 2018.