Authority for third-party road tests for school bus drivers amended, and technical changes made.

A bill for an act

relating to transportation; amending authority for third-party road tests for school

bus drivers; making technical changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections

123A.21, subdivision 7; 171.3213.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 123A.21, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Educational programs and services.

(a) The board of directors of each SC

shall submit annually a plan to the members. The plan shall identify the programs and

services which are suggested for implementation by the SC during the following year and

shall contain components of long-range planning determined by the SC. These programs

and services may include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

(1) administrative services;

(2) curriculum development;

(3) data processing;

(4) distance learning and other telecommunication services;

(5) evaluation and research;

(6) staff development;

(7) media and technology centers;

(8) publication and dissemination of materials;

(9) pupil personnel services;

(10) planning;

(11) secondary, postsecondary, community, adult, and adult vocational education;

(12) teaching and learning services, including services for students with special talents

and special needs;

(13) employee personnel services;

(14) vocational rehabilitation;

(15) health, diagnostic, and child development services and centers;

(16) leadership or direction in early childhood and family education;

(17) community services;

(18) shared time programs;

(19) fiscal services and risk management programs, including health insurance programs

providing reinsurance or stop loss coverage;

(20) technology planning, training, and support services;

(21) health and safety services;

(22) student academic challenges;
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and
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(23) cooperative purchasing services
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; and
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(24) third-party testing of school bus drivers
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.

An SC is subject to regulation and oversight by the commissioner of commerce under

the insurance laws of this state when operating a health reinsurance program pursuant to

clause (19) providing reinsurance or stop loss coverage.

(b) A group health, dental, or long-term disability coverage program provided by one

or more service cooperatives may provide coverage to nursing homes licensed under chapter

144A and to boarding care homes licensed under sections
144.50
to
144.56
and certified

for participation in the medical assistance program located in this state.

(c) A group health, dental, or long-term disability coverage program provided by one

or more service cooperatives:

(1) must rebid contracts for insurance and third-party administration at least every four

years. The contracts may be regional or statewide in the discretion of the SC; and

(2) may determine premiums for its health, dental, or long-term disability coverage

individually for specific employers or may determine them on a pooled or other basis

established by the SC.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.3213, is amended to read:

171.3213 THIRD-PARTY TESTING OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

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Subdivision 1.

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Definition.

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For purposes of this section, "road test" includes any necessary

endorsement tests to operate a school bus.

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Subd. 2.

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Bilateral agreements.

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(a)
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A school district that is
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designated as
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a third-party

testing program and owns or operates school buses may enter into an agreement with other

school districts to
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administer the road
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test
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to
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the other districts' school bus driver employees.

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(b)
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A school bus company that is
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designated as
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a third-party testing program and owns

or operates school buses may enter into an agreement with other school bus companies to
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administer the road
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test
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to
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the other companies' school bus driver employees.

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(c)
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A third-party testing program may be reimbursed by the tested driver's school district

or company. The agreement must be submitted to the commissioner for approval. A certified

third-party tester must be employed by a school district or a school bus company providing

the testing services.

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Subd. 3.

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Service cooperatives.

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(a) The commissioner may designate a service cooperative

organized under section 123A.21 as a third-party testing program.

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(b) A service cooperative that is designated as a third-party testing program may

administer the road test to an employee of a school district that (1) is a member of the service

cooperative, and (2) owns or operates school buses.

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