Ind. Code ch. 20-27-3

in effect

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-1 State school bus committee; members

Sec. 1. (a) The state school bus committee is established. The committee has the following voting members: (1) The secretary of education or the secretary's authorized representative, who serves as chairperson of the committee. (2) The commissioner of the bureau of motor vehicles, or the commissioner's authorized representative. (3) The administrator of the motor carrier services division of the department of state revenue. (4) The director of the criminal justice institute. (5) A school bus driver appointed by the secretary of education upon the recommendation of the Indiana State Association of School Bus Drivers, Inc. (6) A superintendent of a school corporation appointed by the secretary of education upon the recommendation of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents. (7) A member of the governing body of a school corporation appointed by the secretary of education upon the recommendation of the Indiana School Boards Association. (8) A representative of the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Indiana School for the Deaf appointed by the secretary of education. (9) A member of the School Transportation Association of Indiana appointed by the secretary of education upon the recommendation of the School Transportation Association of Indiana. (b) The secretary of education shall designate a secretary from the department who shall keep the official record of the meetings and of official transactions of the committee. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-1.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.218-2005, SEC.69; P.L.23-2020, SEC.3; P.L.43-2021, SEC.81.

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-2 Nonvoting members

Sec. 2. (a) The following nonvoting members shall advise the voting members of the committee: (1) A member of the Indiana Association of School Bus Distributors selected by the executive committee of that association. (2) A member of the state police department selected by the state police superintendent. (3) A member of the Indiana Township Association selected by the executive committee of that association. (4) A school business official appointed by the secretary of education upon the recommendation of the Indiana Association of School Business Officials. (b) An individual is not qualified to serve as a nonvoting member of the committee until proper credentials of the individual's appointment have been filed with the chairperson of the committee. Each nonvoting member shall be notified of all committee meetings and may attend each meeting and offer advice to the voting members of the committee. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-2.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.43-2021, SEC.82; P.L.201-2025, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-3 Meetings

Sec. 3. (a) The committee: (1) shall hold one (1) regular meeting each quarter; and (2) may hold special meetings as the chairperson considers necessary. (b) Four (4) voting members of the committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-3.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.192-2013, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-4 Powers; bus driver performance standards; certificate of inspection

Sec. 4. (a) The committee has the following powers: (1) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing standards for the construction of school buses and special purpose buses, including minimum standards for the construction of school buses and special purpose buses necessary to be issued a: (A) valid certificate of inspection decal; and (B) temporary certificate of inspection decal described in IC 20-27-7-10. (2) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing standards for the equipment of school buses and special purpose buses, including minimum standards for the equipment of school buses and special purpose buses necessary to be issued a: (A) valid certificate of inspection decal; and (B) temporary certificate of inspection decal described in IC 20-27-7-10. (3) The committee may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 specifying the minimum standards that must be met to avoid the issuance of an out-of-service certificate of inspection decal. (4) The committee may provide for the inspection of all school buses and special purpose buses, new or old, that are offered for sale, lease, or contract. (5) The committee may provide for the annual inspection of all school buses and special purpose buses and the issuance of certificate of inspection decals. (6) The committee may maintain an approved list of school buses and special purpose buses that have passed inspection tests under subdivision (4) or (5). (7) The committee may, subject to approval by the state board of accounts, prescribe standard forms for school bus driver contracts. (8) The committee may hear appeals brought under IC 20-27-7-15 and IC 20-27-8-15. (b) The committee shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to set performance standards and measurements for determining the physical ability necessary for an individual to be a school bus driver. (c) The certificate of inspection decals shall be issued to correspond with each school year. Each certificate of inspection decal expires on September 30 following the school year in which the certificate of inspection decal is effective. However, for buses that are described in IC 20-27-7-7, the certificate of inspection decal expires on a date that is not later than seven (7) months after the date of the first inspection for the particular school year. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-4.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.107-2006, SEC.6; P.L.127-2016, SEC.18.

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-5 Rules; display of school district name on bus; indication on bus of stopping at railroad crossing

Sec. 5. (a) The committee shall adopt and enforce rules under IC 4-22-2 to require that each new school bus operated by or on behalf of a school corporation bear the name of the school district on the back of the school bus in black letters. (b) The committee shall adopt and enforce rules under IC 4-22-2 to require that each school bus placed into service for the first time by a school corporation or nonpublic school bear an indication on the back of the school bus that the school bus is required to stop at all railroad crossings. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-4.5.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.42-2014, SEC.1; P.L.213-2015, SEC.168.

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-6 Rules; display of United States flag on bus

Sec. 6. The committee shall adopt and enforce rules under IC 4-22-2 that allow the display of the United States flag on a school bus operated by or on behalf of a school corporation. The rules must provide that a flag displayed on a school bus may not be placed in a manner that: (1) obstructs the school bus driver's vision through the windshield or any other window; (2) impedes the school bus driver's operation of any equipment; or (3) distracts the attention of other motorists from the school bus's warning lamps or stop signal arm when the school bus is loading or unloading students. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-4.7.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-6.5 Committee to adopt and enforce rules concerning proper fastening of safety belt on school bus passenger's body and conducting a school bus passenger evacuation drill

Sec. 6.5. The committee shall adopt and enforce rules under IC 4-22-2 to require that a school bus driver operating a school bus do the following at least one (1) time each semester: (1) If the school bus is equipped with safety belts meeting the standards set forth in IC 9-19-10-2, provide instruction to the passengers on the school bus on the proper fastening of the safety belt about the passenger's body. (2) Conduct a school bus passenger evacuation drill. As added by P.L.192-2013, SEC.4.

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-7 Standards of construction and equipment

Sec. 7. (a) A school bus or special purpose bus sold or delivered in Indiana must meet the standards of construction and equipment set forth in the rules of the committee. (b) A school bus may not be originally licensed in Indiana until the school bus has been inspected by the state police department and found to comply with these standards. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-4-10.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.107-2006, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-27-3-8 Violation

Sec. 8. A person who knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly violates this chapter commits a Class C misdemeanor. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-9.1-5-22(a).] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.231-2005, SEC.35.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026