(a) The department shall adopt and enforce rules governing the design, color, lighting and other equipment, construction, and operation of a school bus for the transportation of schoolchildren that is:
(1) owned and operated by a school district in this state; or
(2) privately owned and operated under a contract with a school district in this state.
(b) In adopting rules under this section, the department shall emphasize:
(1) safety features; and
(2) long-range, maintenance-free factors.
(c) Rules adopted under this section:
(1) apply to each school district, the officers and employees of a district, and each person employed under contract by a school district; and
(2) shall by reference be made a part of any contract that is entered into by a school district in this state for the transportation of schoolchildren on a privately owned school bus.