S-3945.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6652

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senators Finkbeiner and Johnson

Read first time 01/22/96.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Establishing the school bus improvement grant program.

    AN ACT Relating to school bus improvement; adding a new section to chapter 28A.160 RCW; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.160 RCW to read as follows:

    Certain school districts are in areas that have road conditions requiring special features on buses to transport students safely.  Therefore, the school bus improvement grant program is established.  The purpose of the program is to provide grants for school districts to purchase school buses if a district can demonstrate that, due to terrain, climate, or road conditions, the district requires buses with features in addition to the minimum requirements under RCW 28A.160.200.  Districts with fewer than three thousand students may apply to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the funds.  These funds shall not become part of the allocation formula under RCW 28A.160.200.  The funds may be used to purchase buses immediately or may be deposited in the district's transportation vehicle fund for the immediate purchase of buses in their fleet.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The sum of one million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.

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