School Bus Cameras/Evidence & Contract Length.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 411

Short Title: School Bus Cameras/Evidence & Contract Length. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Hise (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 25, 2025
*S411-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THAT CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS CAMERA RECORDED 2
IMAGES ARE PRIMA FAC IE EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATING A FAILURE TO S TOP 3
FOR A SCHOOL BUS AND EXTENDING THE MAXIM UM LENGTH FOR 4
AUTOMATED SCHOOL BUS SAFETY CAMERA SERVI CE CONTRACTS WITH 5
PRIVATE VENDORS. 6
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 20-217 reads as rewritten: 8
"§ 20 -217. Motor vehicles to stop for properly marked and designated school buses in 9
certain instances; evidence of identity of driver. 10
… 11
(h) Automated school bus safety cameras, as defined in G.S. 115C-242.1, may be used 12
to detect and prosecute violations of this section. Any photograph or video recorded by an 13
automated school bus safety camera shall, if consistent with the North Carolina R ules of 14
Evidence, be admissible as evidence in any proceeding alleging a violation of subsection (a) of 15
this section. Recorded images from a school bus safety camera show ing that a school bus was 16
stopped and was displaying its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights shall be prima facie 17
evidence that (i) the school bus was stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging 18
passengers and (ii) the school bus was equipped and marked in compliance with this section. 19
Failure to produce a photograph or vi deo recorded by an automated school bus safety camera 20
shall not preclude prosecution under this section." 21
SECTION 1.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to 22
offenses committed on or after that date. 23
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C-242.1 reads as rewritten: 24
"§ 115C-242.1. Installation and operation of automated school bus safety camera. 25
… 26
(b) Installation and Operation. – Automated school bus safety cameras may be installed 27
and operated on any school bus operated by a local board of education within a county that has 28
adopted an ordinance under G.S. 153A 246 as follows: 29
… 30
(2) A local board of education may enter into a service contract to install and 31
operate automated school bus safety cameras with a private vendor. Contracts 32
shall be let in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 143 129 applicable to 33
purchases of apparatus, supplies, materials, or equipment. The maximum 34
length of any contract entered into under this subdivision shall be three five 35
years. A contract entered into under this subdivision may contain an option to 36
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 411-First Edition
renew or extend the contract for only one additional term not to exceed three 1
five years. 2
…." 3
SECTION 2.(b) This section becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies to contracts 4
issued, renewed, or amended on or after that date. 5
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 6
law. 7