Continuing Coverage
Continuing Coverage

School bus stopping bill passes Ga. Senate

Fulton County Schools bus stops on Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. A phrase added to a 15-page bill approved late in the Georgia legislative session last year has caused panic among officials responsible for getting children to and from school safely. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
Fulton County Schools bus stops on Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. A phrase added to a 15-page bill approved late in the Georgia legislative session last year has caused panic among officials responsible for getting children to and from school safely. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By Ty Tagami
Feb 8, 2019

The Georgia Senate, in an act of bipartisanship, quickly passed a bill Thursday to reverse a law passed last year that may put children in danger.

School officials say a law that took effect July 1 appears to relax the requirement to stop in the oncoming lane for a school bus that is boarding or releasing students.

At least one child has been killed crossing to a bus in Georgia since the law passed, the Georgia Department of Education says. It happened in October in Colquitt County, when two brothers were crossing a road for a school bus.

RELATED | Why a small change in law could create danger for students

Senate Bill 25 by Sen. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, passed by a unanimous vote, and goes to the House of Representatives, which has its own version in House Bill 75.

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

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