DAYS TO THE SCHOOL YEAR. 605 NEW ON WLWT. THERE’S A NEW PUSH TO CRACK DOWN ON DRIVERS WHO ILLEGALLY PASS SCHOOL BUSSES, AND TO MAKE THOSE BUSSES SAFER FOR STUDENTS IN GENERAL. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S GIACOMO LUCA IS LIVE AT THE SCHOOL BUS YARD IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, WITH WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THESE NEW PROPOSALS. GIACOMO. YES, STEPHEN. WELL, THIS ALL COMES AFTER A DANGEROUS START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS YEAR ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO. WE KNOW ACCORDING TO THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, THERE’S BEEN MORE THAN 160 SCHOOL BUS RELATED CRASHES SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2025. THE SCHOOL BUS SAFETY ACT, CO-SPONSORED BY CECIL THOMAS, THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR CINCINNATI, WOULD MAKE IT A MISDEMEANOR TO ILLEGALLY PASS A SCHOOL BUS WHILE IT’S PICKING UP OR DROPPING OFF STUDENTS. THAT INCLUDES WHEN THE STOP ARMS OUT. IT WOULD REQUIRE A MINIMUM FINE OF $250 AND DOUBLE THE MAXIMUM FINE TO $1,000, WHILE REPEAT OFFENDERS COULD EVEN LOSE THEIR LICENSES. NOW, IF PASSED, THIS WOULD ALSO CREATE A $25 MILLION FUND TO HELP SCHOOLS MAKE SCHOOL BUSSES SAFER. I SPOKE WITH RUDY BREGLIA. HE’S THE FOUNDER OF THE OHIO SCHOOL BUS SEATBELT SAFETY ALLIANCE, WHO SAYS RECENT PROPOSALS ARE STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT SAY THEY DON’T GO FAR ENOUGH. HE WANTS TO MANDATE SEAT BELTS IN ALL SCHOOL BUSSES. IT JUST MAKES COMMON SENSE IF YOU’RE IF YOU’RE IN A CRASH, IT’S MUCH BETTER TO HAVE A SEATBELT ON. YOU’RE YOU’RE GOING TO BE PROPELLED FROM THAT, FROM WHERE YOU’RE SITTING. AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE A RESTRAINT, YOU’RE JUST GOING TO KEEP ON TRAVELING TILL YOU HIT SOMETHING SOLID. NOW, UNDER THAT PROPOSAL, AUGUST WOULD ALSO BECOME SCHOOL BUS SAFETY MONTH. THERE’S ALSO ANOTHER BILL CIRCULATING IN THE SENATE THAT’S VERY SIMILAR TO THIS ONE. BOTH OF THOSE BILLS REMAIN IN COMMITTEE. WE’RE LIVE THIS MORNI