HARTFORD – The Governor has said that new buses, being bought for technical high schools around the state, will be equipped with seat belts. This comes, of course, after the public outcry following a fatal bus crash.

The Parikh family has testified in support of seat belt legislation saying if their son Vikas had a seat belt on, during the January 9 crash, he would be alive today.

Governor Jodi Rell is in agreement and said starting with the oldest buses in the state-owned fleet, those for the vocational technical schools, will be getting seat belts.

Governor Rell plans to place $2 million on the next state bond commission agenda to purchase nearly 40 new school bus replacements.

“The young man’s family, as you know, testified that they believe that he would be alive today had be been wearing a seat belt and Governor Rell certainly does not disagree with this,” said Communications Aide Donna Tommelloeo for Governor Rell.

The seat belt proposal, before the legislature’s Transportation Committee, would require seat belts be installed on all school buses by January 2011.

If passed into law, Connecticut would become the seventh state to require seat belts.