§ 16-27-9 — Reporting and Investigating Incidents and Complaints Regarding School Bus Safety

(a) A local superintendent of education, or his or her designee, shall be the main point of contact between local law enforcement and the school district for incidents and complaints regarding school bus safety and school bus safety laws including, but not limited to, trespass on a school bus in the first degree pursuant to Section 13A-7-4.2 and overtaking a school bus pursuant to Section 32-5A-154.
(b) The local superintendent of education, or his or her designee, shall do all of the following on behalf of the school district:
(1) Receive and document all incidents and complaints regarding school bus safety and school bus safety laws.
(2) Interview witnesses and gather evidence, including video footage.
(3) Complete all necessary paperwork, including filing police reports and signing warrants.
(4) File charges or otherwise pursue appropriate legal action against any individual who commits a crime or violates a law relating to school bus safety laws.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the bus driver from voluntarily filing charges, or mandating that the bus driver file charges against an individual related to either Section 13A-7-4.2 or Section 32-5A-154.

Legislative History

(Act 2025-390, §1.)