BUSES Act

This Act may be cited as the “Buses Utilizing Safety and Environmental Standards Act” or the “BUSES Act”.

(a) Implementation plans.— Section 110(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7410(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(7) Engine idling restrictions.— Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no implementation plan submitted by a State under this subsection may include, nor may any State, or political subdivision thereof, enforce through such implementation plan, any engine idling restriction applicable to the idling of an engine of an over-the-road bus (as defined in section 304(h)(3)) or a school bus for a period of less than 15 minutes.”.

(b) Citizen suits.— Section 304 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7604) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(h) Limitation on actions relating to idling of buses.—

(1) In general.— Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no person may commence a civil action against an owner or operator of an over-the-road bus or a school bus for any alleged violations of engine idling restrictions described in section 110(a)(7).

(2) Prohibition on bounty-based enforcement programs.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law—

(A) no State or political subdivision thereof may implement or maintain any program that provides monetary compensation to private individuals contingent upon the reporting, citation, or enforcement of engine idling violations for over-the-road buses; and

(B) any such program that is in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection shall be terminated not later than 180 days after such date of enactment.

(3) Over-the-road bus defined.— The term “over-the-road bus” has the meaning given such term in section 301 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12181).”.