RCW 46.39.010
Compact enacted -- Provisions. (Effective until June 30, 2011.)

The "Interstate Compact for School Bus Safety" is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:



INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR


SCHOOL BUS SAFETY



ARTICLE I


FINDINGS AND PURPOSES


     (a) The party states find that:

     (1) School transportation is an integral part of our education systems. The increasing volume of traffic on streets and highways, with larger numbers of school children being transported each year, presents a serious problem in safety that requires regulation and control.

     (2) During recent years the various states have each developed their own rules, regulations and standards which govern the operation of school buses in the individual states, thus creating vast differences in construction standards and operational procedures.

     (3) Standardization by means of interstate cooperation, exchange of information, and the promulgation of uniform practices among the states can do much to mitigate present hazards and at the same time generate cost reductions and improved service.

     (b) The purposes of this compact are to:

     (1) Promote uniformity in regulation of and standards for school bus equipment.

     (2) Secure uniformity of law and administrative practices in school bus vehicle regulation and related safety standards, incorporating desirable equipment changes in the interest of greater school bus safety.

     (3) Establish a means whereby the states party to this compact shall jointly agree on certain school bus minimum standards and procedures including, without limitation by the enumeration, the following:

     (i) Items which affect the motorist, such as use of lights, signs, and signaling devices that control traffic;

     (ii) Procedural activities of school bus drivers in controlling traffic; and in the loading and unloading of buses;

     (iii) Construction and other specifications which can lead to lower initial costs and the interchangeability of school buses among states;

     (iv) A framework within which the party states may develop uniform driver training programs; and

     (v) Development of accurate and uniform accident statistical reporting among the party states.

     (4) Encourage and utilize research which will facilitate achievement of the foregoing purposes, with due regard for the findings set forth in subsection (a) of this Article.

     (5) It is recognized that there are inherent differences in transportation needs in each of the party states. It shall not be the purpose of this compact to abridge, impair or adversely affect the jurisdiction or authority of the individual states to regulate and control their own school transportation systems.

     (6) Investigate the safety and economic advantage of children being transported.



ARTICLE II


DEFINITIONS


     (a) "State" means a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other special commonwealth as may be established by the Government of the United States.

     (b) "School bus" shall have the same meaning as provided in RCW 46.04.521.

     (c) "Equipment" means the equipment required for school buses under chapter 46.37 RCW.



ARTICLE III


THE COMMISSION


     (a) There is hereby created an agency of the party states to be known as the "Western States School Bus Safety Commission" (hereinafter called the Commission). The Commission shall consist of not less than one nor more than three commissioners from each State, each of whom shall be a citizen of the State from which he is appointed, and not less than one or nor more than three commissioners representing the United States Government. The commissioners from each State shall be chosen in the manner and for the terms provided by the laws of the States from which they shall be appointed, provided that at least one member shall be appointed from the State agency which has primary responsibility for pupil transportation in that State. Any commissioner may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the State from which he shall be appointed. The commissioners representing the United States shall be appointed by the President of the United States, or in such other manner as may be provided by Congress. The commissioners shall serve without compensation, but shall be paid their actual expenses incurred in and incidental to the performance of their duties; but nothing herein shall prevent the appointment of an officer or employee of any State or of the United States Government.

     (b) Each state delegation shall be entitled to one vote, and the presence of commissioners from a majority of the party states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Commission. A majority vote of the quorum will be required to adopt any measure before the Commission. The commissioners representing the United States Government shall act in an advisory capacity and shall not have voting powers.

     (c) The Commission shall have a seal.

     (d) The Commission shall elect annually, from among its members, a chairman, a vice chairman, and a treasurer. The Commission shall appoint an Executive Director who shall serve at its pleasure and who shall also act as Secretary, and who, together with the Treasurer, shall be bonded in such amounts as the Commission may require.

     (e) The Executive Director, with the approval of the Commission, shall appoint and remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of the Commission's functions irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit system laws of any of the party states.

     (f) The Commission may establish and maintain, independently or in conjunction with any one or more of the party states, a suitable retirement system for its full-time employees. The Commission may establish and maintain or participate in such additional programs of employee benefits as may be appropriate.

     (g) The Commission may borrow, accept, or contract for the services of personnel from any state or the United States or any subdivision or agency thereof, from any interstate agency, or from any institution, person, firm or corporation.

     (h) The Commission may establish and maintain such facilities as may be necessary for the transacting of its business. The Commission may acquire, hold, and convey real and personal property and any interest therein.

     (i) The Commission shall adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations for the conduct of its business, and shall have the power to amend and rescind these bylaws, rules, and regulations. The Commission shall publish its bylaws, rules, and regulations in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and shall also file a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states.

     (j) The Commission annually shall make to the governor and the legislature of each party state, a report covering the activities of the Commission for the preceding year, and embodying such recommendations as may have been adopted by the Commission. The Commission may issue such additional reports as it may deem desirable.



ARTICLE IV


FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES


     (a) The Commission shall have power to perform the following functions and activities that relate to school bus transportation:

     (1) Recommend and encourage research, testing and training activities to the extent the Commission finds necessary.

     (2) Contract for research, testing and training activities on behalf of the Commission itself or for one or more governmental agencies if they provide special funding for that purpose.

     (3) Engage directly in such activities to the extent approved by the Commission.

     (4) Recommend to the party states of needed changes in law or policy with emphasis on uniformity of laws and administrative rules, regulations or codes which would promote effective governmental action or coordination of school bus construction, equipment, safety programs, and school bus driver training.

     (5) The Commission shall send prompt notice of its action in issuing any rule, regulation or code pursuant to this article to the appropriate agency of each party state and such notice shall contain the complete text of the rule, regulation or code.

     (6) Each party state, recognizing that to carry out the intent of this compact, obligates itself to adopt in identical terms, all rules, regulations and specifications which are standardized through due process to the States.

     (b) The Commission may establish such advisory and technical committees as may be necessary, membership on which may include public officials and private citizens. The Commission may also cooperate with other governmental agencies and interstate organizations and with organizations representing the private sector.



ARTICLE V


FINANCE


     (a) Moneys necessary to finance the Commission in carrying out its duties shall be provided through appropriations from the states party to this compact, said payments to be in direct proportion to the number of school buses registered in the respective party states. The initial rate of payment shall be figured at $0.50 per bus, provided that no state shall contribute less than $500.00 per annum. The annual contribution of each state above the minimum shall be figured to the nearest one hundred dollars. Subsequent budgets shall be determined by the Commission, and the cost thereof allocated in the same proportion as the initial budget.

     (b) The Commission may accept for any of its purposes under this compact any and all donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services (conditional and otherwise) from any state or the United States or any subdivision or agency thereof, or interstate agency, or from any institution, person, firm, or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same.



ARTICLE VI


ENTRY INTO FORCE AND WITHDRAWAL


     (a) This compact shall enter into immediate force and effect as to any state when enacted by it into law, and such state shall thereafter be a party thereto with any and all states joining therein.

     (b) It is the purpose of this compact to provide the necessary legal basis for implementation and adoption by each party state of the standardized rules, regulations and specifications as adopted by the Commission. Consistent with the laws of each party state, there shall be a "compact administrator" who, acting jointly with like officials of other party states, shall promulgate necessary rules, regulations and specifications within that state to carry out the actions and directives of the Commission.

     (c) Any state party to this compact may, by legislative act after one year's notice to the Commission, withdraw from the compact. The compact may also be terminated at any time by the unanimous agreement of the several party states. Withdrawal shall not relieve a state from its obligations hereunder prior to the effective withdrawal date.

     (d) If any state shall at any time default in the performance of any of its obligations assumed herein or with respect to any obligation imposed upon said state as authorized by and in compliance with the terms and provisions of this compact, all rights, privileges and benefits of such defaulting state and its members on the Commission shall be suspended after the date of such default. Such suspension shall in no manner release such defaulting state from any accrued obligation or otherwise affect this compact or the rights, duties, privileges or obligations of the remaining states thereunder.



ARTICLE VII


SEVERABILITY


     (a) The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be unconstitutional or the applicability thereof to any state, agency, person or circumstances is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any other state, agency, person or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. It is the legislative intent that the provisions of this compact be reasonably and liberally construed.

[1977 ex.s. c 88 § 1.]