Bill to Protect Students on Buses Moves Forward

Student Safety Measures Beyond the Classroom

Denver, CO – Senator Rachel Zenzinger’s bipartisan bill to increase the safety and security of students on school buses was approved by the Senate Finance Committee yesterday. This measure would help provide school districts with hardware and software that would allow school buses to communicate directly with first responders by voice communication and by using a silent duress alarm.

“When your kid heads to school you want to be completely confident in their safety,” said Sen. Zenzinger (D-Arvada). “Sadly, many parents and students are nervous about their journey to the classroom. Currently, school buses are extremely ill-equipped to rapidly respond to an emergency. This is why we need better protections in place that will keep children safe even before they step foot in school.”

SB20-052 establishes a program that awards 3-year grants to school districts for technological improvements on school buses that would allow drivers to contact emergency personnel more easily and rapidly. It will also provide training and secure parental notification, at no cost to parents, relating to school bus and student status.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.