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ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2947
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Beeksma, Quall, Hymes, Sehlin, Honeyford, L. Thomas and Thompson)
Read first time 02/05/96.
AN ACT Relating to reimbursement for school buses; amending RCW 28A.160.195; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 28A.160.195 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 10 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the regional transportation coordinators of the educational service districts, shall establish a minimum number of school bus categories considering the capacity, engine placement, and type of vehicles required by school districts in Washington. The superintendent, in consultation with the regional transportation coordinators of the educational service districts, shall establish competitive specifications for each category of school bus. The categories shall be developed to produce minimum long-range operating costs, including costs of equipment and all costs in operating the vehicles. The categories, for purposes of comparative studies, will be at a minimum the same as those in the beginning of the 1994-95 school year. The competitive specifications shall meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, minimum state specifications as established by rule by the superintendent, and supported options as determined by the superintendent in consultation with the regional transportation coordinators of the educational service districts.
(2) After establishing school bus categories and competitive specifications, the superintendent of public instruction shall solicit competitive price quotes from school bus dealers to be in effect for one year and establish a list of the lowest competitive price quotes obtained under this subsection.
(3) The superintendent shall base the level of reimbursement to school districts and educational service districts for school buses on the lowest quote in each category. However, district reimbursements for any new categories established in 1996 shall be for: (a) Buses placed on the reimbursement schedule after January 1, 1996, and before December 31, 1996; and (b) districts documenting reasons for choosing a new category, rather than an existing 1995 category, to the satisfaction of a majority of regional transportation coordinators of the educational service districts and the superintendent of public instruction. If the regional transportation coordinators deny a request for placement of a bus on a new category created in 1996, they shall document the reasons and provide the information to the superintendent of public instruction. New categories shall be developed and be ready for soliciting competitive bids by June 1, 1996.
(4) Notwithstanding RCW 28A.335.190, school districts and educational service districts may purchase at the quoted price directly from the dealer who is providing the lowest competitive price quote on the list established under subsection (2) of this section. School districts and educational service districts may make their own selections for school buses, but shall be reimbursed at the rates determined under this section and RCW 28A.160.200. District-selected options shall not be reimbursed by the state.
(5) This section does not prohibit school districts or educational service districts from conducting their own competitive bid process.
(6) The superintendent of public instruction may adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW to implement this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. If specific funding for this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1996, in the supplemental omnibus appropriations act, this act shall be null and void.
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