(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Charles "Chuck" Poland, Jr., Act.
(b) A person commits the crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree if he or she is found guilty of doing any of the following:
(1) Intentionally demolishing, destroying, defacing, injuring, burning, or damaging any public school bus.
(2) Entering a public school bus while the door is open to load or unload students without a lawful purpose, while at a railroad grade crossing, or after being forbidden from doing so by the authorized school bus driver in charge of the bus, or upon demand of a principal of a school to which the bus is assigned or other duly authorized school system official.
(3) As an occupant of a public school bus, refusing to leave the bus on demand of the authorized school bus driver in charge of the bus, or upon demand of a principal of a school to which the bus is assigned or other duly authorized school system official.
(4) Intentionally stopping, impeding, delaying, or detaining any public school bus being operated for public school purposes with the intent to commit a crime therein.
(c) The crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) Subdivisions (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b) do not apply to a child who is less than 12 years of age or to authorized school personnel who are boarding the school bus as a part of their job assignment.
Last modified: May 3, 2021