Session of 1999
HOUSE BILL No. 2425
By Committee on Federal and State Affairs
2-10
9 AN ACT regulating traffic; concerning maximum speed limits for school
10 buses; amending K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 8-1558 and repealing the existing
11 section.
12
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
14 Section 1. K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 8-1558 is hereby amended to read as
15 follows: 8-1558. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (e) and
16 Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for com-
17 pliance with K.S.A. 8-1557, and amendments thereto, the limits specified
18 in this subsection or established as authorized by law shall be maximum
19 lawful speeds, and no person shall operate a vehicle at a speed in excess
20 of such maximum limits:
21 (1) In any urban district, 30 miles per hour;
22 (2) on any separated multilane highway, as designated and posted by
23 the secretary of transportation, 70 miles per hour;
24 (3) on any county or township highway, 55 miles per hour; and
25 (4) on all other highways, 65 miles per hour.
26 (b) No person shall drive a school bus to or from school, or inter-
27 school or intraschool functions or activities, at a speed greater than 45
28 miles per hour on any roadway having a dirt, sand or gravel surface, and
29 in no event shall a school bus be driven to and from school, or functions
30 or activities, in excess of 55 miles per hour, notwithstanding any maximum
31 speed limit in excess thereof. The provisions of this subsection relating
32 to school buses shall apply to buses used for the transportation of students
33 enrolled in community colleges or area vocational schools, when such
34 buses are transporting students to or from school, or functions or activi-
35 ties.
36 (c) (b) The secretary of transportation shall not be liable for any dam-
37 age or loss, asserted to have been sustained between the effective date
38 of this act and July 1, 1996, based on a claim of failure to post any speed
39 limit, or to erect signs or place markings in relation to any speed limit
40 established by this act, on any highway under the secretary's jurisdiction.
41 (d) (c) The maximum speed limits in this section may be altered as
42 authorized in K.S.A. 8-1559 and 8-1560, and amendments thereto.
43 (e) The speed limits established in paragraphs (2) and (4) of subsec-
44 tion (a) shall be effective 15 days following the effective date of this act.
45 During such interim fifteen-day period, the maximum speed limit under
46 paragraph (2) of subsection (a) shall be 65 miles per hour and the maxi-
47 mum speed limit under paragraph (4) of subsection (a) shall be 55 miles
48 per hour.
49 Sec. 2. K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 8-1558 is hereby repealed.
50 Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
51 publication in the statute book.