Transportation Services

Massachusetts Laws for School Buses

1. Massachusetts Laws for School Busses: Chapter 90 section. 1 - 11, 15
   • Chapter 90, Section 1A. Registration of motor vehicles; liability insurance, certificate accompanying application, failure to maintain; revocation of certificate of registration; exemptions; school buses.
   • Chapter 90: Section 7A. Rules and regulations for periodic inspections of motor vehicles; school buses; fees
   • Chapter 90, Section 7B. Equipment and operation of school buses. Evacuation Drills, doors closed while driving, maximum number of students.
   • Chapter 90, Section 7C. Minimum standards for construction and equipment of school buses.
   • Chapter 90, Section 7D. Application of sec. 7B; additional equipment.
   • Chapter 90, Section 7D½. Transportation of vocational school students; motor vehicle requirements; seat belts.
   Chapter 90, Section 7E. Display of red or blue lights on vehicles; permits; revocation; violations.
   • Chapter 90, Section 7L. Standing in school buses; penalty.
   • Chapter 90, Section 7CC. Transporting of special needs children.
   • Chapter 90, Section 8. Operator's licenses; applications; examinations.
   • Chapter 90, Section 8A. Operators of school buses; licensing; training; instructors.
   • Chapter 90, Section 8A½. Operators of school buses under sec. 7D; licensing; exceptions.
   • Chapter 90, Section 15. Precautions at railroad crossings.
2. 540 CMR section 2.16
3. Criminal Offenders CORI Requirements
4. Insurance Coverage: Chapter 40 §4
5. Equal Access for Public and Private School Children: MGL 76 § 1, MGL 71 §68
6. State Reimbursement for Transportation: MGL 71 § 7A, 7B, 7C
7. Legal Ruling: 1983 DOE Letter Ruling by Frederick Mandel. Esq.: There is no legal requirement in the state transportation statutes that requires parents/guardians to be present at the bus stop. "Generally, state regulation of school bus transportation is restricted to the period of time during which school children are actually on the bus."
8. School Committee Responsibilities
9. Chapter 71, Section 6, Education in Out-of-Town High Schools
10. Chapter 71: Section 16C. Regional School transportation
11. Chapter 71, Section 37H, Publication of School Committee Rules and Regulations Relative to the Conduct of Teachers and Students
12. Chapter 71, Section 47, Athletic Programs; School Organizations; Regulations 1
13. Chapter 71, Section 48A, School Safety Patrols (Purchase of Traffic Safety Belts)
14. Chapter 71, Section 68. Duty of Towns to Maintain Schools; Pupil Transportation; School Building Committee Representation
15. Chapter 71, Section 71A, Safety Stations on Highways
16. Chapter 71B, Section 8. Transportation
17. Chapter 74, Section 8A, Transportation of Students
18. Chapter 76, Section 1. Regulation of School Attendance; Private School Transportation
19. Chapter 76, Section 14, Island Children