Bill > HR6821

This bill, known as the "Protect Our Students Act," aims to enhance safety for students traveling to and from school by amending existing federal highway safety laws. It declares that reducing injuries and deaths from traffic incidents in school zones is now an eligible use of funds under State highway safety programs, which are overseen by the Department of Transportation. The bill specifically adds "traffic incidents in school zones" to the list of eligible safety program activities, alongside existing provisions for school buses. To implement this, the Secretary of Transportation will issue regulations clarifying that these funds can be used for various safety improvements such as hiring crossing guards, installing flashing lights and beacons, improving signage and crosswalks, implementing traffic calming measures like pedestrian islands, upgrading traffic lights, conducting school zone safety assessments, utilizing automated traffic enforcement, and supporting non-infrastructure aspects of Safe Routes to School programs. Additionally, the bill increases the percentage of highway safety funds that states must allocate to these types of safety programs from 40 percent to 50 percent, signifying a greater federal commitment to student transportation safety.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6821/all-info