This section defines what qualifies as a school bus in California, primarily as any vehicle used to transport students from kindergarten through 12th grade to school or school activities. However, it lists exceptions: vehicles carrying only household members, certain passenger and motor trucks that don't carry students using wheelchairs, public transit vehicles under specific conditions, school pupil activity buses, buses crossing state borders for school activities, and state-owned vehicles operating at low speeds on hospital grounds.

This law defines what a 'school pupil activity bus' is and outlines its usage, saying it can be used to transport students no higher than 12th grade to or from school activities or residential schools. These buses can be operated by carriers primarily for public transport under certain conditions. The law specifies that such buses are not subject to rules for long-distance travel out of state. School pupil activity bus drivers must follow California Highway Patrol regulations for schoolbus drivers, but they aren't required to repeat training they've already completed, and they don't need to take first aid training. Importantly, holding a certificate to drive these buses doesn't mean the driver can operate a standard school bus.

This law section explains that the State Board of Education sets rules for how school buses are used by school districts, but the California Highway Patrol is responsible for creating safety rules about how to operate these buses. The Highway Patrol's safety regulations must also include training for school bus drivers on what to do if a bus is hijacked.

This law requires that passengers in school buses that have seat belts or other restraint systems must use them correctly to ensure their safety while riding.

This law requires schools, including public, charter, and private, that provide transportation to create a safety plan for student transport. The plan should outline rules for safely picking up and dropping off students, determine if students need an escort, ensure no students are left unattended, and establish how adults will chaperone students. Schools aren't obligated to hire additional bus monitors. The safety plan must be updated as needed and made available to the California Highway Patrol upon request.

This law requires that all students in prekindergarten through grade 12 who ride a school bus must be taught about school bus safety and emergency procedures. When students first register for school, their parents must receive written info about bus safety, including where bus stops are and how to behave at bus stops. Each year, students in prekindergarten through grade 8 must receive safety training that covers how to get on and off the bus correctly, how to cross the street safely, and understand the use of safety belts. Before any school trips, all students on the bus must learn about emergency exits and use of safety equipment. The school must keep a record of all these instructions, noting details like the date, bus driver's name, and what topics were covered, for at least one year in case the Highway Patrol wants to inspect it.

Schools can paint the name of the school on the side of a school bus, but it has to be done according to guidelines set by the California Highway Patrol.

This law states that it's generally a crime if someone knowingly operates a school bus overloaded with kids beyond its seating capacity. However, schools can have a policy in place that allows buses to be overfilled during emergencies, like natural disasters, to ensure the children's safety. Emergencies in this context mean situations that require kids to be quickly moved to a safer place.

This law allows school districts to use school buses for community recreation activities throughout the school year. If the school district is getting reimbursements for transportation costs, they must include the total bus mileage used for these activities in their reports. The state will deduct an amount for wear and tear on the buses used for community purposes from their funding.

This law allows school districts to use their buses to transport students to and from crop harvest locations during a national emergency or war. The school district can charge a reasonable fee for this transportation service.

School districts in California can use their buses to transport students to and from summer jobs as part of a youth employment program. However, they must charge a reasonable fee for this transportation. Additionally, the school districts need to have adequate insurance to cover any potential liability concerning this service.

School buses in California must have one or more fire extinguishers approved by recognized safety laboratories stored within easy reach of the driver. These extinguishers must have a combined rating of at least 8-B, C, which ensures they can handle multiple types of fires, but they cannot use carbon tetrachloride.

This law allows guide dogs, signal dogs, and service dogs to be transported on a school bus if they are assisting disabled students or teachers, or if they're being trained.

This law allows a school district to let government agencies use its school buses to transport their employees, but only if certain conditions are met. These conditions include: no nearby public transport for the employees, the buses must normally be used to transport students from the agency's property, the use must not interfere with school needs, and the school bus markings and lights must be covered. The buses need to be maintained in good condition, and detailed records of their mileage under agency use must be kept. The district will face deductions if bus depreciation occurs due to this use.

This law outlines specific conditions a school district must include in any deal when letting a public transit system use its school buses. Firstly, any signs or lights marking the bus as a school bus must be covered or removed. Secondly, the bus must be kept in top working order, meeting the state’s school bus standards. Lastly, detailed records of the miles driven by the bus in public transit service must be kept.

This law states that if someone gets on a school bus or an activity bus without permission from the driver or school official, with the intention to commit a crime, and then refuses to leave when told, they are committing a misdemeanor. This crime can lead to a jail term of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. School districts can also put up notices on buses warning against such unauthorized entry.

This law requires schools and related organizations that provide transportation to report any school bus driver disciplinary actions to the Department of Motor Vehicles within five days. Specifically, if a driver leaves a vehicle with students inside unsupervised and is deemed grossly negligent, this must be reported. Gross negligence is defined as a severe lack of care compared to what is normally expected. However, if a driver is escorting students safely as part of their duties, that isn't considered leaving the vehicle.