BILL REQ. #:  S-2609.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to student transportation funding; amending RCW 28A.160.170; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.160.170 and 1990 c 33 s 143 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each district shall submit to the superintendent of public instruction during October of each year a report containing the following:
     (1)(a) The number of eligible students transported to and from school as provided for in RCW 28A.160.150 for the current school year and the number of miles estimated to be driven for pupil transportation services, along with a map describing student route stop locations and school locations, and (b) the number of miles driven for pupil transportation services as authorized in RCW 28A.160.150 the previous school year; and
     (2) Other operational data and descriptions as required by the superintendent to determine allocation requirements for each district. The superintendent shall require that districts separate the costs of operating the program for the transportation of eligible students to and from school as defined by RCW 28A.160.160(3) from non-to-and-from-school pupil transportation costs in the annual financial statement.
     Each district shall submit the information required in this section on a timely basis as a condition of the continuing receipt of school transportation moneys.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The office of financial management, in consultation with the superintendent of public instruction and the joint legislative audit and review committee, shall contract for development of two options for a pupil transportation funding methodology. The consultants shall have expertise in school funding methodologies, pupil transportation, and commercial transportation logistics.
     (2) In developing these options, the first priority shall be to create a methodology that reflects actual costs and builds incentives for the efficient use of resources. As a secondary priority, the funding methodology, to the extent possible, shall provide school districts with predictable levels of funding.
     (3) In developing the funding methodology options, the office of financial management and the contractor shall consult with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, regional transportation coordinators, and professional associations representing pupil transportation coordinators, school business managers, school administrators, and classified staff.
     (4) By December 1, 2008, the office of financial management shall report to the governor and the education and fiscal committees of the legislature details of the pupil funding methodology options and outline any legislation that would be required to implement those options. The report submitted by the office of financial management shall include an evaluation of the feasibility of some or all of the K-12 pupil transportation program being supported by the state transportation budget including reviewing the potential use of local transit agencies.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Section 1 of this act takes effect September 1, 2007.