Relates to participation in games of bingo by minors

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo

Adds motorcoach definition; requires seatbelt clauses in tickets and driver pre-departure announcements; directs DPU to run seatbelt safety info campaign for operators and riders.

REFERRED TO RACING AND WAGERING

Summary — S.2611: "An Act promoting passenger safety on motorcoaches"

Status: Referred to Racing and Wagering (per provided record)
Introduced: Filed 02/13/2025 (Senate Docket No. 2671); introduced July 31, 2025 (metadata)
Primary sponsor (per bill cover): Senator Joanne M. Comerford

Note on metadata: the user-supplied package includes some inconsistent metadata (a top-line title referencing bingo/minors and a sponsors list that appears to include federal senators). The text of the bill and the version filed with the Massachusetts Senate clearly address motorcoach passenger safety; this summary is based on that bill text.

Purpose

To promote passenger safety on commercial motorcoaches by (1) defining “motorcoach” in Massachusetts traffic law, (2) requiring operators to include a seatbelt-use provision in ticket agreements and for drivers to announce seatbelt use before departure, and (3) directing the Department of Public Utilities to run a public information campaign on motorcoach seatbelt safety.

Key provisions

Adds a definition to Chapter 90, Section 1:

“Motorcoach” means a bus with an elevated passenger deck over a baggage compartment that transports passengers for hire between fixed/regular termini or under a charter license. Excludes city public transit buses and school buses.

Amends Chapter 90, Section 13A to explicitly include “motorcoach” alongside existing covered vehicles.

Requires motorcoach operators to:

Include in ticket purchase agreements a provision stating that passengers agree to wear seatbelts while seated when the motorcoach is in motion.
Have drivers make an announcement before departure instructing passengers to wear seatbelts while seated when the vehicle is in motion.

Directs the Department of Public Utilities to conduct a public information campaign on the importance of wearing seatbelts on motorcoaches and the safety risks of not doing so.

Who is affected

Motorcoach companies and charter operators (must update ticketing agreements and driver procedures).

Motorcoach drivers (required to make pre-departure announcements).

Motorcoach passengers (receive contractual notice and safety messaging; expected to wear seatbelts while seated).

City public transit buses and school buses are explicitly excluded from the definition and related requirements.

Enforcement, penalties, and implementation

The bill text specifies contractual and announcement requirements and a DPU education campaign, but does not establish standalone criminal penalties or enforcement mechanisms for passenger noncompliance.

Operational questions likely to arise in implementation: how compliance with ticket-agreement provisions will be monitored/enforced, relationship to federal motor carrier regulations (e.g., FMCSA), and requirements for seatbelt availability and signage.

Legislative/procedural notes

Provided legislative action entries show multiple committee referrals, hearings, and actions (including committee movement, passage in the Senate, and delivery to the Assembly). Records include duplicated entries and date inconsistencies; consult the official Massachusetts legislative website for the current, authoritative status and history.