S-1090.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5874

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senator Sheahan

Read first time 02/06/2001.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Clarifying the student transportation funding formula.

    AN ACT Relating to the student transportation funding formula; and amending RCW 28A.160.180.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28A.160.180 and 1996 c 279 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    Each district's annual student transportation allocation shall be based on differential rates determined by the superintendent of public instruction in the following manner:

    (1) The superintendent shall annually calculate a standard student mile allocation rate for determining the transportation allocation for those services provided for in RCW 28A.160.150.  "Standard student mile allocation rate," as used in this chapter, means the per mile allocation rate for transporting an eligible student.  The standard student mile allocation rate may be adjusted to include such additional differential factors as distance; restricted passenger load; circumstances that require use of special types of transportation vehicles; student with disabilities load; and small fleet maintenance.  In calculating the allocation to each school district, the superintendent shall not include in the calculation the number of nonfunded students in grades six through twelve who are picked up within one mile of school.

    (2) For transportation services for students living within one radius mile from school, the allocation shall be based on the number of students in grades kindergarten through five living within one radius mile as specified in the biennial appropriations act.

    (3) The superintendent of public instruction shall annually calculate allocation rate(s), which shall include vehicle amortization, for determining the transportation allocation for transporting students in district-owned passenger cars, as defined in RCW 46.04.382, pursuant to RCW 28A.160.010 for services provided for in RCW 28A.160.150 if a school district deems it advisable to use such vehicles after the school district board of directors has considered the safety of the students being transported as well as the economy of utilizing a district-owned passenger car in lieu of a school bus.

     (4) Prior to June 1st of each year the superintendent shall submit to the office of financial management, and the committees on education and ways and means of the senate and house of representatives a report outlining the methodology and rationale used in determining the allocation rates to be used the following year.

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