Assigned to ED & APPROP AS
PASSED BY COMMITTEE
Assigned to ED & APPROP AS
PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
Purpose
Allows a school district to include any vehicle that meets the definition of a school bus in the calculation of daily route mileage.
Background
Statute defines school bus as a motor vehicle designed for carrying more than 10 passengers that is either: 1) owned by any public or governmental agency or other institution and operated for the transportation of children to or from home or school on a regularly scheduled basis; or 2) privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from home or school on a regularly scheduled basis (A.R.S. § 28-101).
Transportation funding for school districts is calculated by multiplying a statutorily set amount, adjusted annually for inflation, by a school district's approved daily route mileage per eligible student, plus an amount spent for bus tokens and passes. Daily route mileage is the total number of miles driven daily, by all buses of the school district and through transportation contracts, transporting eligible students to and from school on scheduled routes approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (A.R.S. § 15-901).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a school district to include any vehicle that meets the definition of a school bus in the calculation of daily route mileage.
2. Prohibits the Department of Education from denying transportation funding or state aid for a school district that transports pupils in any vehicle meeting the definition of school bus.
3. Makes a technical change.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the Education Committee
· Removes changes to the definition of school bus.
Senate Action
ED 2/1/18 DPA 6-0-1
APPROP 2/6/18 DP 8-0-2
Prepared by Senate Research
February 7, 2018
BL/lb