Plain English Breakdown
The bill text uses the phrase 'or such other amount as approved by the governing board,' which means the limit is not fixed at exactly 200 hours for rural districts; it can be different if the board approves.
Changes to Rules for School Bus Drivers in Rural Areas
This law removes drive time limits for employees taking students on sports or field trips and creates new rules, funding options, and authorizations for small rural schools.
What This Bill Does
- Removes the yearly limit of 40 driving hours for school employees who take pupils to athletic programs, extracurricular activities, or field trips.
- Keeps the 40-hour limit for other types of student transport but raises it to 200 hours (or another amount approved by the board) for small rural schools and frontier districts with fewer than 2,500 students.
- Creates a grant program that gives money to small and rural agencies for driver training, vehicle inspections, and safety compliance if funding is approved by lawmakers.
- Lets eligible small or frontier schools authorize employees or volunteers to drive students in vehicles holding 10 people or fewer after they meet specific safety checks.
- Requires schools to keep records of all authorizations, inspections, and training for drivers using the new rural activity rules.
Who It Names or Affects
- School districts with an average daily attendance of fewer than 2,500 students.
- Frontier school districts as defined by state law.
- Employees who supervise pupils during field trips or athletic events.
- Registered volunteers in eligible areas who transport students to activities.
Terms To Know
- Local educational agency
- A school district, county office of education, or charter school that manages schools and student services.
- Frontier school district
- A specific type of rural school district defined by state law based on location and size.
- Rural activity driver authorization
- Special permission given to an employee or volunteer in a small rural area to drive students under new safety rules.
Limits and Unknowns
- The grant program only works if the state legislature approves money for it.
- Drivers with special authorization cannot take routes that are more than 200 road miles one way.
- Vehicles used under this law must hold a maximum of 10 people, including the driver.