S-4367.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6721
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Senators Winsley, Oke, Wojahn, Goings, Kohl, Rasmussen and Bauer
Read first time 01/29/98. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to a study of the student transportation allocation; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The joint legislative audit and review committee shall either conduct or contract for a study on student transportation, with emphasis on the allocation provided for in RCW 28A.160.150 through 28A.160.190. The study shall include an analysis of the adequacy of the allocation to fund home-to-school and return transportation in support of the basic education program. The study also shall examine school district costs in funding other transportation in support of the basic education program. The study shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the effect of the following factors on student transportation costs: Traffic congestion and resulting increases in driver time; the need to transport students within a one-mile radius of a school due to hazardous walking conditions; school district transportation scheduling practices; current and potential use of mass transit; school districts contracting for transportation services with private providers; various geographic features; weather conditions; state rules that provide for counting only those students riding to school, not those riding home from school; state rules that limit when ridership counts may be reported for allocation, and when the counts may be adjusted; and state rules for counting mid-day kindergarten students for funding.
Relevant statutes and rules that affect student transportation funding shall be reviewed. The joint legislative audit and review committee shall use the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the regional transportation supervisors in planning and conducting the study. The results and recommendations shall be reported to the house of representatives and senate education committees, the house of representatives appropriations committee, the senate ways and means committee, and the office of financial management by December 1998.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the joint legislative audit and review committee for the purpose of conducting the study in this act.
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