20-10-102. School bus requirements. (1) A school bus may be operated by the district or other public agency for the conveyance of pupils or may be privately operated by a carrier to provide such conveyance of pupils under contract with a district or other public agency.

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Terms Used In Montana Code 20-10-102

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • district: means the territory, regardless of county boundaries, organized under the provisions of this title to provide public educational services under the jurisdiction of the trustees prescribed by this title. See Montana Code 20-6-101
  • school: means an institution for the teaching of children that is established and maintained under the laws of the state of Montana at public expense. See Montana Code 20-6-501
  • School bus: means , except as provided in subsection (5)(b), any motor vehicle that complies with the bus standards established by the board of public education as verified by the department of justice's semiannual inspection of school buses and the superintendent of public instruction and:

    (i)is owned by a district or other public agency and operated for the transportation of pupils to or from school or owned by a carrier under contract with a district or public agency to provide transportation of pupils to or from school; or

    (ii)is district-owned, is designed to carry 10 or fewer passengers, has an overall safety rating of five stars from the national highway traffic safety administration at the time of purchase, and is insured in accordance with minimum coverage requirements set forth in 20-10-109. See Montana Code 20-10-101

(2)Every school bus shall bear on the front and rear of the bus a plainly visible sign containing the words “school bus” in letters at least 8 inches in height.

(3)When a school bus is operated on a highway for purposes other than transporting pupils to and from school or for school functions, all markings identifying it as a school bus shall be concealed.