SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6684

              As Passed Senate, February 13, 1996

Title:  An act relating to student safety to and from school.

Brief Description:  Authorizing student transportation funding for students living within one mile of the school.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, Johnson, Goings, Finkbeiner, Pelz, Rasmussen, Fairley, Hochstatter, Bauer and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  1/26/96, 2/1/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/13/96, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Hochstatter, Johnson, Pelz and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background:  Each school district determines which students will be transported to and from school by the district and what routes will be used to transport the students. 

If a school district elects to provide student transportation, then the state allocates funds for student transportation based on the number of students who are eligible and who actually ride buses.  Eligible students include certain students with disabilities, students whose route stop is more than one radius mile from the student's school, and students whose route stop is less than one radius mile from the student's school if their walking conditions qualify them for hazardous conditions transportation.

Money allocated by the state for student transportation must be spent for student transportation activities and cannot be used to mitigate hazardous walking conditions.

Summary of Bill:  The allocation formula for student transportation is changed.  Instead of funding based on the existence of a hazardous walking condition existing for students living within one radius mile of school, funding is based on the number of students in grades kindergarten through five living within one radius mile of school.

Funds allocated to school districts for students living within one mile of school can be spent to alleviate hazardous walking conditions.  Actions to alleviate such conditions can include the use of warning signs, sidewalks, overpasses, crossing guards, and bus transportation for students.  Priority must be given to students in grades kindergarten through five.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill is effective for school transportation programs beginning in the 1996-97 school year.

Testimony For:  This bill targets the students most at risk of getting hurt by hazardous walking conditions and provides the flexibility to address those conditions in the most appropriate manner.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator McAuliffe, prime sponsor; Mike Roberts, OSPI.

House Amendment(s):  Funds allocated to school districts for students living within one mile of school may also be used as matching funds for local and state transportation projects intended to mitigate hazardous walking conditions.