07 LC 21
9412/AP
House
Bill 790 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Amerson of the
9th,
Day of the
163rd,
Burkhalter of the
50th,
Keen of the
179th,
Coleman of the
97th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to holidays and observances, so as to declare the third week in October "School
Bus Safety Week"; to make certain findings of fact; to repeal conflicting laws;
and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
WHEREAS,
every day, a fleet of yellow school buses carry Georgia´s children to and
from school; and
WHEREAS,
the state´s school buses comprise the state´s largest mass
transportation fleet, and each day during the school year, school buses make
many passenger trips carrying the state´s future–our children;
and
WHEREAS,
school buses meet higher construction, equipment, and inspection standards than
any other vehicle, and school bus drivers meet higher qualification, training,
and testing standards than any other drivers; and
WHEREAS,
according to the National Academy of Sciences, an average of 820 students are
killed annually during school transportation hours, but less than 2 percent of
them are school bus passengers; and
WHEREAS,
despite the industry´s best efforts, accidents still happen;
and
WHEREAS,
"School Bus Safety Week," which is celebrated in more than 40 other states and
sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, was created to
remind all students of the best ways to get on and off the bus in an effort to
enhance the safety of the nation´s children; and
WHEREAS,
"School Bus Safety Week," which dates back to 1966, also recognizes the hard
work and dedication of school transportation personnel, especially the many
school bus drivers who ensure a safe journey each and every day;
and
WHEREAS,
"School Bus Safety Week," celebrated the third week in October, promotes
awareness through local and state poster and speech contests, lessons utilizing
school bus safety community awareness kits, and other activities built around
themes that raise awareness of school bus safety issues.
SECTION
2.
Chapter
4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and
observances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as
follows:
"1-4-17.
The
third week in October of every year is designated 'School Bus Safety Week' in
Georgia."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.