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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
school buses; electrification; contracts
Purpose
Allows a school district to select preapproved carriers or private parties to provide electric school buses and related infrastructure and services. Adds a member to the School Bus Advisory Council (Council) who has expertise in electric transportation.
Background
A school district may contract for transportation with another political subdivision, a common or contract carrier or a private party if contracting is economically advantageous as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, operating a transportation program. Each school district must electronically submit specified transportation contracts information to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) (A.R.S. § 15-922).
The Council must advise the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in developing rules relating to school bus safety, school bus driver certification and school bus driver training. The Council is established of nine members appointed by the Governor. The Council consists of: 1) one member representing DPS; 2) one member representing the State Board of Education; 3) four members representing school districts with varying student counts; 4) one member representing transportation administrators; 5) a certified school bus driver or instructor; and 6) a member representing a private sector bus service provider (A.R.S. § 28-3053).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a school district to select a Council-preapproved contract carrier or private party that provides:
a) electric school buses;
b) electric school bus charging infrastructure;
c) charging and charging management services; or
d) electric school bus services.
2. Adds, to the Council's responsibilities, preapproving contract carriers and private parties that provide electric school buses, infrastructure and services as outlined.
3. Adds a member to the Council who has expertise in electric vehicle fleets, electric vehicle charging infrastructure or charging management services.
4. Requires the Council to:
a) finalize a process for soliciting preapprovals within six months after the general effective date; and
b) finalize an initial list of preapproved contract carriers and private parties within one year after the general effective date.
5. Specifies that a school district's electronic submission to ADE of information relating to transportation contracts must be in the form of a report.
6. Contains a statement of legislative findings.
7. Makes technical and conforming changes.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Removes, from the responsibilities of the Public School Transportation Modernization Grants Program Administrator, the addition of ensuring funding for proposals demonstrating innovations in electrified school transportation.
2. Adds a member to the Council.
3. Modifies the statement of legislative findings.
Senate Action
ED 2/8/22 DPA 8-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 10, 2022
LB/MS/slp