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TO AMEND CHAPTER 67, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-67-75, RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS, SO AS TO DEFINE "AUTOMATIC ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM", TO REQUIRE INSTALLATION OF THESE SYSTEMS ON NEWLY PURCHASED SCHOOL BUSES, TO REQUIRE PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED SCHOOL BUSES BE RETROFITTED WITH THESE SYSTEMS, AND TO SET PRIORITIES FOR THE RETROFITTING OF PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED SCHOOL BUSES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 67, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-67-75. (A) As used in relation to school buses, the term "Automatic Engine Compartment Fire Suppression System" is defined as a fire suppression system that includes the following:
(1) a vehicle thermatic fire system with EPA approved liquid clean agent NAF S-III or FE-36 for protection of the engine compartment;
(2) an auto-reset thermal detector pre-set to activate the system at three-hundred degrees Fahrenheit;
(3) a suppressant canister that is made of steel, connected to the discharge spray nozzle, and capable of holding a sufficient amount of liquid vaporizing suppressant to protect the engine compartment;
(4) a fire suppressant that is non-corrosive and does not leave any residue after discharge;
(5) a pressure gauge on the suppressant canister that allows service personnel to monitor the status of the charge of the canister; and
(6) the capability of being automatically activated whether the engine of the school bus is running or not.
(B) Subject to the appropriation of funding by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, every school bus purchased after January 1, 2009, shall be equipped with an Automatic Engine Compartment Fire Suppression System. Subject to the appropriation of funding by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, all school buses purchased before January 1, 2009, which remain in service thereafter, must be retrofitted with Automatic Engine Compartment Fire Suppression Systems. In carrying out the retrofitting of previously purchased school buses, school buses designed to serve students with disabilities must be the first priority. Following the completion of retrofitting all school buses designed to serve students with disabilities, standard school buses shall be retrofitted."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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