Statement on school bus accident in Cottonwood, Minn. from Senate education chair

OLYMPIA – Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee issued the following statement regarding the tragic school bus collision yesterday in Cottonwood, Minn. that claimed the lives of four students:

“My colleagues and I send our deepest condolences to the families, friends and staff who are affected by the accident yesterday — and particularly to the parents and families of those children who were lost. It pains me to see the images and read the news stories of the accident.”

“Since 2004, I have sponsored legislation that requires all new school buses in our state to be equipped with lap and shoulder seat belts. The law requires mandatory seat belt use in passenger cars, and it should be the same way on school buses. They’re moving hundreds of thousands of our kids back and forth to school every day.”

“I’m disappointed that my bills have not yet gained traction here in the Senate. I’m going to continue working to get seat belts on our buses. This is about safety and our kids.”

McAuliffe’s current version of school bus seat belt legislation, filed in 2007, is Senate Bill 5103.

Return to Sen. McAuliffe's home page