HB2720: Local school divisions, certain; flexibility relating to student transportation, sunset.

Legislative Summary

School boards; transportation alternatives; two-year pilot in small school divisions. Permits certain school boards to pursue certain student transportation alternatives for the next two school years and requires such school boards to report certain data on the implementation of such initiatives. The bill sets forth certain parameters and requirements for any student transportation alternatives pursued by a school board pursuant to the bill, including a requirement that any entity with which a school board contracts or that any school board utilizes for the purpose of providing any transportation alternative or supplementing any traditional transportation services meet and comply with any state and federal laws and regulations applicable to traditional transportation services, including (i) school bus operator training, hiring, and employment requirements; (ii) minimum insurance coverage requirements for any vehicles provided or utilized for such purposes; and (iii) requirements relating to liability of the school board in the event of any accident, injury, or property damage resulting from the operation of any vehicles provided or utilized for such purposes. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Education to exclude from the re-benchmarking process any additional expenditures relating to school divisions that implement the pilot program pursuant to the bill. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027.