Bill
HB 2137
HB 2137 allows KSDE to contract a private vendor to install/operate stop-arm cameras on school buses, issue $250 penalties to owners, with noticed violations and a dedicated fund.
Status
- Introduced: January 28, 2025 (House Committee on Education)
- Scheduled hearing: Monday, February 17, 2025, 1:30 PM Room 218‑N — CANCELED
- Classification: Bill
Purpose / intent
HB 2137 authorizes the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) to contract with a private vendor to install, operate, and maintain video cameras on school bus stop signal arms to capture motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses. The bill creates an administrative civil‑penalty enforcement framework, a dedicated fund to support the program, and reporting and appeals procedures.
Key provisions
- Vendor contracting: KSDE must develop policies and procedures to contract with a private vendor for installation, operation and maintenance of stop‑arm video recording devices. School districts must adopt a majority vote resolution to participate before devices are installed on their buses.
- Vendor agreement requirements: contracts must specify vendor compensation, equipment costs and data reporting requirements (including counts of notices issued and civil penalties assessed).
- Civil penalty: $250 civil penalty for each violation captured by a stop‑arm camera.
- Evidence and verification: recorded images forwarded by the vendor are reviewed and verified by a designated official at the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP). Recorded images showing a violation are prima facie evidence that a violation occurred.
- Notice and timelines:
- If KHP verification finds a violation, KSDE issues a notice of violation to the registered vehicle owner by first‑class mail within 14 calendar days of the incident.
- Registered owners are presumed to be the driver but may contest the notice to KSDE within 15 business days and provide evidence of defenses (e.g., vehicle stolen, plate stolen, vehicle sold, or already charged).
- KSDE must investigate a contest and, within 30 business days, dismiss or confirm the violation. Confirmed findings may be appealed via an administrative hearing under the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act.
- Enforcement of unpaid penalties: KSDE may notify the Division of Vehicles (Department of Revenue) to withhold vehicle registration or renewal until civil penalties are paid.
- Records and public access: Images would not be subject to the Kansas Open Records Act; that exemption sunsets on July 1, 2028 unless the Legislature extends it.
- School Bus Safety and Education Fund: All civil penalties are remitted to the State Treasurer and credited to a newly created fund administered by KSDE to pay for device costs, verification, public education about the dangers/consequences of illegal passing, and related expenditures. KSDE must publish an annual report to the Legislature and on its website with counts of violations, notices, and penalties collected.
Who is affected
- Motor vehicle operators caught on camera (and the registered owners of those vehicles)
- School districts choosing to participate
- Private vendors providing camera services
- Kansas Department of Education (program administration, reporting)
- Kansas Highway Patrol (verification duties)
- Division of Vehicles / Department of Revenue (registration enforcement)
- General public (education campaigns funded by penalties)
Fiscal and administrative impacts (from Fiscal Note, Feb 3, 2025)
- KSDE expects increased penalty revenue and higher expenditures for vendor contracts; unknown number of participating districts makes net fiscal outcome uncertain. KSDE anticipates vendor revenues eventually could cover program costs, but an initial funding mechanism (State General Fund appropriation or vendor retroactive payments) would likely be needed; the bill does not specify this.
- KHP reports insufficient current staffing; estimates additional annual costs of $206,441 and 2.25 FTE to review images and report findings (2.00 Program Consultant II at $85,641 each; 0.25 Attorney at $35,159). Those costs would require appropriation from the State Highway Fund or other source.
- Department of Revenue reports no fiscal effect beyond normal operations.
Procedural / timeline notes
- The Open Records exemption for recorded images expires July 1, 2028 unless changed by the Legislature.
- KSDE must produce an annual report to the Legislature (violations, notices, penalties collected) and post it online.
- Initial program start‑up would require funding; how that is provided is unspecified in the bill text and fiscal note.
Limitations / uncertainties
- The number of school districts (and buses) that will participate is unknown, making revenue and net program costs uncertain.
- The bill does not specify the image retention period in the excerpt provided (it states retention is addressed but text is truncated).
- Funding for KHP verification staff and initial program setup is not identified in the bill; appropriation or interagency reimbursement would be required.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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