New Arkansas Laws Which Effect You:

Signed by Governor Beebee, March 30, 2007	SB851 is now Act 718 For An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR PASSING A SCHOOL  BUS; TO SIMPLIFY THE REPORTING OF VIOLATIONS OF THE PASSING OF A SCHOOL BUS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR PASSING A  SCHOOL BUS AND TO SIMPLIFY THE  REPORTING  OF A VIOLATION OF THE PASSING OF A SCHOOL BUS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 6-19-110(c), regarding the duties of bus 24 drivers, is amended to read as follows:  (c)(1) The driver of a school bus who observes an operator of a motor vehicle violating  § 27-51-1004 or § 27-51-1005 shall: report the license plate number, issuing state if different than Arkansas, and a brief description of the vehicle to the superintendent  within two (2) hours after the end of the driver’s shift for that period of the day. (2) Within forty-eight (48) hours of the observation shall promptly provide the  information to a the local prosecuting attorney. SECTION 1 2. Arkansas Code § 6-19-110, regarding the duties of bus 2 drivers , is amended to add additional subsections to read as follows: 3 (e)(1) The prosecuting attorney who is provided a report under this 4 section shall provide written notice to the superintendent regarding the  outcome of the report. (2) The superintendent shall provide information regarding the  outcome of the report to the driver of the school bus who initiated the  report.  (f) Nothing in this section shall limit a person who observes an operator of a motor vehicle violating § 27-51-1004 or § 27-51-1005 from  reporting the incident to the local  prosecuting attorney. Simplified this means  the school bus driver would have to get the vehicle's license plate  number and a brief description of the vehicle. Within a two-hour period, the one-page form  would have to be submitted to the district's superintendent. The superintendent would then turn the form over to the prosecutor. The prosecutor would then have to provide information back to the superintendent, who in turn must notify the driver of the outcome.  This means NO more four page reports and the Superintendent is RESPONSIBLE!
Signed by Governor Beebee, March 9, 2007	HB1469 is now Act 256 For An Act To Be Entitled  AN ACT TO REPEAL THE ALLOWANCE FOR A RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL DRIVER  LICENSE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN ORDER TO CONFORM THE ARKANSAS REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF COMMERICAL DRIVER LICENSES TO FEDERAL STANDARDS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO CONFORM THE ISSUANCE OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSES TO FEDERAL  STANDARDS.  BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 27-23-110(a)(11), concerning the application for a commercial driver license, is amended to read as follows:  (11) Any other information required by the Office of Driver Services of the Department of Finance and Administration. The application must be accompanied by an application fee of  forty-one dollars ($41.00). The application fee shall not be required from a person who  requests that the  license be restricted to the driving of a school bus; provided, however, that such person shall be required to pay the noncommercial driver license fee.  SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 27-23-111(b)(3), concerning commercial driver license endorsements and restrictions, is amended to read as follows: 33 (3) Endorsements and restrictions are: "H" - authorizes the driver to drive a vehicle transporting hazardous materials; "K" - restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with airbrakes; "T" - authorizes driving double and triple trailers; "P" - authorizes driving vehicles carrying passengers or carrying passengers for hire; "N" - authorizes driving tank vehicles; "X" - represents a combination of hazardous materials and tank vehicle endorsements; "M" - authorizes the driver to drive a motorcycle; and  "S" - authorizes the driver to operate a school bus. Simplified this means Act 256 of 2007 amended Ark. Code Ann. § 27–23–110(a)(11) by changing the fee structure and eliminating the “S” restriction as it applies to school bus drivers.     Anyone renewing a license or issued a new license after August 1, 2007, to drive a school bus, must pay the $20.00 application fee and take the tests for the “P” endorsement and “S” endorsement and pay a $41.00 license fee to obtain a class B CDL. This will allow the driver to operate any vehicle that falls under the class B. category. This act aligns Arkansas law with the “S” endorsement which was put into effect in 2005 by the Federal Government.