R13-13-302. Minimum Standards for 11 to 15 Passenger Vehicle Equipment

A. A Type A or Type B school bus shall comply with R13-13-106 through R13-13-112 with the following exceptions: 1. Any Type A or Type B MFSAB in service prior to July 1, 2025 that is painted any shade of white may be used as a school bus up to but not beyond July 1, 2027, if equipped with the following: a. An eight lamp alternately flashing signal lamps as specified in R13-13-107(17). b. A stop signal arm as specified in R13-13-107(31). 2. The removal of seats to meet the requirements of a 925 Vehicle is prohibited and does not reclassify the vehicle to one that would qualify as a 925 Vehicle. 3. Any Type A or B MFSAB retrofitted under this Section shall be inspected by the Department in accordance with R13-13-108. B. 925 Vehicle Standards. 1. Certification, Seating and Crash Protection: a. Shall meet the requirements of 49 CFR 571.222 dated September 29, 2025, incorporated by reference, and does not include any later amendments or editions and is available from the federal government at https://www.ecfr.gov/ and the Department; b. Vehicles with labels affixed by the manufacturer stating Not A School Bus or that have similar language indicating the vehicle is not certified for use as a school bus are prohibited. Removing, relocating, altering or defacing any certification, compliance or advisory label or plate affixed by the manufacturer is prohibited; c. Shall have seatbelts installed and functioning in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications; d. The removal of seats from a vehicle to meet the requirements of a 925 Vehicle is prohibited and does not reclassify the vehicle to one that would qualify as a 925 Vehicle; and, e. The manufacturer shall permanently apply a certification label or plate stating the rated occupancy the vehicle is designed to carry in terms of the driver and number of passengers. Removing, relocating, altering or defacing any certification label or plate affixed by the manufacturer is prohibited. 2. Tires and Wheels. a. Shall meet the requirements of 49 CFR 393.75 dated September 29, 2025, incorporated by reference, and does not include any later amendments or editions and is available from the federal government at https://www.ecfr.gov/ and the Department. b. Shall not have tires including the spare tire over six years old from the date of manufacture marked on the tire. c. Shall be of the same brand and model including spare tires. d. May be equipped with a spare tire. If equipped, the spare tire shall be mounted as designed by the manufacturer. 3. Color and Markings: a. Shall be painted National School Bus Yellow as specified in the National Congress on School Transportation, National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures dated May 2025, incorporated by reference, and does not include any later amendments or editions and is available from the National Congress on School Transportation at https://nasdpts.org/NCST-NSTSP and the Department. b. The exterior top may be painted white to reflect heat. c. Shall have a reflective strip at least four inches tall of alternating white and yellow two-inch stripes set at a 45º angle that stretches across the lower rear of the vehicle and terminating no more than four inches from the outside edges of the vehicle. d. Shall have on both sides of the vehicle the name of the school or the name of the private company in a minimum of three-inch up to five-inch block, black letters. e. Shall have on the rear of the vehicle the lettering STUDENT TRANSPORTATION in a minimum three-inch up to five-inch block, black letters. f. Shall have a vehicle number displayed in a minimum three-inch up to five-inch block, black numbers in the following locations: i. On the lower left or right area of the back of the vehicle; and, ii. On the left and right side of the vehicle at a point forward of the vertical centerline of the driver and front passenger doors. 4. Lighting: a. Shall be equipped with a high-mounted, 360-degree, amber-flashing light centered on the rear roof line that is activated by the driver at railroad grade crossings. b. The light shall have a flash rate equal to or greater than the vehicle’s turn signal flash rate. c. The light shall meet the minimum visibility standard of stop lamps in A.R.S. § 28-939. 5. Alternative Fuels: a. 925 Vehicles may use alternative fuels other than diesel or gasoline. b. 925 Vehicles shall comply with the requirements in Article 2 if using alternative fuels. 6. A 925 Vehicle shall be inspected and certified by the Department in accordance with R13-13-108 as applicable for the type of vehicle.