BILL REQ. #:  H-0415.1 

Read first time 01/24/2007.   Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

     AN ACT Relating to developing a new state funding formula for student transportation; amending RCW 28A.160.170; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) In a 2006 study of state funding for kindergarten through twelfth grade student transportation, the joint legislative audit and review committee found that:
     (a) Because school districts are not required to track or report the costs of transporting students to and from school, there is not precise information on the extent that the state funding formula for student transportation covers such costs;
     (b) There is, however, a high probability that on a statewide basis, the cost of transporting students to and from school exceeds state revenues for this purpose;
     (c) Significant structural and implementation problems exist with the current funding method; and
     (d) The legislature should carefully consider how to appropriate funding for student transportation before decisions are made to provide additional funding to districts.
     (2) Therefore, the legislature intends to direct the office of the superintendent of public instruction, in cooperation with the legislative evaluation and accountability program, to develop a new state funding formula for student transportation that addresses the issues raised in the 2006 study.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.160.170 and 1990 c 33 s 143 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each district shall submit to the superintendent of public instruction during October of each year a report containing the following:
     (((1)))(a)(i) The number of eligible students transported to and from school as provided for in RCW 28A.160.150 for the current school year and the number of miles estimated to be driven for pupil transportation services, along with a map describing student route stop locations and school locations, and (((b))) (ii) the number of miles driven for pupil transportation services as authorized in RCW 28A.160.150 the previous school year; and
     (((2))) (b) Other operational data and descriptions as required by the superintendent to determine allocation requirements for each district.
     (2) Beginning with expenditures reported for the 2006-07 school year, each district shall separate the costs of providing transportation for eligible students to and from school as defined in RCW 28A.160.160(3) from other transportation costs when reporting expenditures for student transportation. The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules, in consultation with the office of the state auditor, that provide clear guidance for tracking and reporting student transportation costs.
     (3) Each district shall submit the information required in this section on a timely basis as a condition of the continuing receipt of school transportation moneys.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The superintendent of public instruction, in cooperation with the legislative evaluation and accountability program, shall develop and propose a new distribution formula for allocating state funds for transportation costs under RCW 28A.160.150 through 28A.160.180.
     (2) The distribution formula developed under this section should seek to achieve the following objectives:
     (a) More accurately reflect the costs of providing transportation for eligible students to and from school based on data reported under RCW 28A.160.170;
     (b) Promote the efficient use of state and local resources; and
     (c) Continue to allow local control of school district student transportation programs, including determination of which individual students are transported and by what manner and what routes are most efficiently used.
     (3) The superintendent and the legislative evaluation and accountability program shall make a preliminary report on the proposed distribution formula to the governor and the education and fiscal committees of the legislature by September 1, 2007. A final report with recommendations, estimates of the fiscal impact of the proposal on the state and school districts, and draft legislation necessary to implement the proposal shall be submitted by December 15, 2007.