123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 133		LR 326(01)
	An Act To Require Seat Belts on All School Buses
	Fiscal Note for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Tuttle of Sanford
	Committee: Transportation
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
State Mandate - Unfunded
			2007-08	2008-09	Projections 2009-10	Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$6,230,432	$6,433,001	$6,574,527	$6,719,167
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$6,230,432	$6,433,001	$6,574,527	$6,719,167
State Mandates					Unit Affected	Costs
	The requirement that every new school bus purchased after January 1, 2008 be equipped with safety seat belts for use by all passengers represents a state mandate pursuant to the Constitution of Maine.  The additional local costs are estimated to be between $3.5 million and $5.0 million per year depending on the type of safety seat belts installed.  Unless General Fund appropriations are provided to fund at least 90% of the additional costs or a Mandate Preamble is amended to the bill and two-thirds of the members of each House vote to exempt this mandate from the funding requirement, the local school administrative units may not be required to implement these changes.				School	Significant
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The total cost of this requirement is estimated to be either $7.5 million or $11.4 million in fiscal year 2007-08 and either $7.7 million or $11.7 million in fiscal year 2008-09 depending on the type of seat belts installed.  This fiscal note assumes that lap-shoulder belts will be installed and reflects the higher costs.  If only lap belts are installed, the lower amounts would apply.
	The General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program within the Department of Education will require additional General Fund appropriations of $6,230,432 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $6,433,001 in fiscal year 2008-09 for the State's share of funding this requirement.  If only lap belts are installed, the State's share would be approximately $4.1 million in fiscal year 2007-08 and $4.3 million in fiscal year 2008-09.