Sec. 16. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), whenever a school bus is purchased for and is being used for any purpose except to transport students, the purchaser shall:
(1) remove the flasher lights;
(2) remove the stop arm; and
(3) paint the bus any color except the national standard school bus chrome yellow.
(b) Whenever a school bus is purchased for use, and is being used, as a church bus (as defined in IC 9-13-2-24), the purchaser:
(1) may retain the flasher lights if the purchaser renders the flasher lights inoperable;
(2) may retain the stop arm if the purchaser renders the stop arm inoperable; and
(3) shall paint the bus any color except the national standard school bus chrome yellow.