An Act relative to school bus stop safety
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 3/26/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5281↗ (under House Rule 27) |
| — | House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order |
| 10/20/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 6/11/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Accompanied | — |
Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47, the following new section: “Section 47A. A sex offender who has been finally classified as a level 2 or level 3 sex offender, and for as long as the sex offender is obligated to register, shall be prohibited from loitering within 500 feet of a school bus stop which has been designated as such by any city, town, or school district. For the purposes of this section, loitering shall mean remaining in the prohibited location for more than 15 minutes. A sex offender who is the parent or legal guardian of a child scheduled to depart from or arrive at a school bus stop, may remain at the prohibited location more than 15 minutes, but only until such time as the child has departed or arrived. A sex offender who violates this section shall be punished by a fine of $500 for a first offense; for a second offense by a fine of $1,000, or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 3 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment; and for a third or subsequent offense by a fine of $1,500 and not less than 3 months nor more than 2 ½ years in a house of correction. Written notification shall be made to the sex offender registry board of any such violation.”
Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47, the following new section: “Section 47A. A sex offender who has been finally classified as a level 2 or level 3 sex offender, and for as long as the sex offender is obligated to register, shall be prohibited from loitering within 500 feet of a school bus stop which has been designated as such by any city, town, or school district. For the purposes of this section, loitering shall mean remaining in the prohibited location for more than 15 minutes. A sex offender who is the parent or legal guardian of a child scheduled to depart from or arrive at a school bus stop, may remain at the prohibited location more than 15 minutes, but only until such time as the child has departed or arrived. A sex offender who violates this section shall be punished by a fine of $500 for a first offense; for a second offense by a fine of $1,000, or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 3 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment; and for a third or subsequent offense by a fine of $1,500 and not less than 3 months nor more than 2 ½ years in a house of correction. Written notification shall be made to the sex offender registry board of any such violation.”