Bill Summary: HB 151 - Department of Transportation Recommendations

• Authorizes the Commissioner of Transportation to develop a program providing college and university students access to bus and off-peak rail transportation services, subject to approval by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management.

• Exempts motor bus service contractors with the state from motor bus certificate requirements under section 13b-80, allowing private contractors to operate buses for state contracts without standard regulatory certification.

• Modifies seat belt requirements to remove "front seat" restriction, clarifying that all passengers must wear seat belts except children under 8 (who need child restraints) and passengers on buses; eliminates requirement for young drivers under 18 to enforce seat belt use on all passengers.

• Establishes new open container law prohibiting possession of open alcoholic beverages in vehicle passenger areas while on highways, with exceptions for hired transportation vehicles and recreational vehicle living quarters; violation results in up to $500 fine.

• Grants municipalities right of first refusal for advertising on rail overpasses and permits buses to use Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways; requires vehicles entering traffic to yield to motor buses using turn signals.