Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed into effect a new law that creates a DMV program to help school districts pay for equipping school buses with three-point, lap/shoulder seat belts.

David Peterson knew his research paper would be unpopular.

A fiscal note attached to House Bill 5033 that would require lap/shoulder restraint systems on all large school buses starting with the 2012 manufacturing year shows that school boards could be required to spend between $45 million and $103 million more over the 12-year replacement cycle for new vehicles.

Legislation introduced in January to improve passenger safety on board motorcoaches used for school activity trips could be considered in the state’s upcoming omnibus K-12 education omnibus bill.

For the first time in 20 years, a piece of legislation requiring seat belts on school buses has made it out of a state committee.