BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the student transportation allocation; creating new sections; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) There is created a K-12 transportation safety net and a transportation safety net committee. The K-12 transportation safety net is for school districts which apply for safety net funds and convincingly demonstrate the following to the K-12 transportation safety net committee:

(a) The district's direct transportation costs eligible for state funding exceed the state allocation for such costs by at least twenty-eight percent;

(b) The district's transportation program is operated in a reasonably efficient manner and the reasons the district's direct costs exceed state allocations are not due to the district's program choices, labor contracts, or buses in the district's fleet which have been fully depreciated according to the state lifetime schedules.

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall, by rule, establish procedures and standards for the allocation of funds appropriated for transportation safety net purposes. Prior to adopting any standards, procedures, or processes required to implement this section, the superintendent shall consult with the office of financial management.

(3) School districts shall submit requests for safety net funds to the state transportation safety net committee. Membership of the committee shall consist of the following:

(a) One staff from the office of financial management;

(b) One staff from the office of the state auditor;

(c) Two staff from the office of the superintendent of public instruction, one from the pupil transportation division who shall chair the committee, and one from the apportionment section;

(d) One or more representatives appointed by the superintendent of public instruction from school districts or educational service districts knowledgeable in the pupil transportation program or school finance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. 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 2000.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, from the general fund to the joint legislative audit and review committee for the purpose of conducting the study in this act.

(2) The sum of five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purpose of providing safety net funds in accordance with section 1 of this act.

(3) The sum of five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purpose of providing safety net funds in accordance with section 1 of this act.