STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAY NEAL OF LAFAYETTE HAS INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT ALL SCHOOL BUSES IN THE STATE BE EQUIPPED WITH A VIDEO CAMERA.  THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER SAYS THE VIDEO EQUIPMENT WOULD ALLOW BUS DRIVERS TO MONITOR THEIR STUDENT-PASSENGERS.  REPRESENTATIVE NEAL DROVE A SCHOOL BUS FOR THE WALKER COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
   

IF APPROVED, THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE THAT ALL NEW SCHOOL BUSES PURCHASED NEXT YEAR WOULD COME EQUIPPED WITH VIDEO… AND THAT BY JULY OF 2014, ALL SCHOOL BUSES WOULD HAVE CAMERAS ON-BOARD.  NEAL’S LEGISLATION DOES NOT ADDRESS THE COSTS INVOLVED IN THE VIDEO CAMERA MANDATE.