1     
SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION AMENDMENTS

2     
2018 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

5     
House Sponsor: Michael E. Noel

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill provides for reimbursement for certain student transportation costs.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms; and
13          ▸     subject to legislative appropriations, requires the State Board of Education to
14     provide a reimbursement for student transportation costs incurred by certain district
15     schools and charter schools.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     ENACTS:
22          53F-5-209, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 53F-5-209 is enacted to read:
26          53F-5-209. Rural school transportation reimbursement.
27          (1) As used in this section:

28          (a) "Eligible school" means a district school or a charter school:
29          (i) that is located in a county of the fourth, fifth, or sixth class, as defined in Section
30     17-50-501;
31          (ii) in which at least 50% of the students enrolled in the school qualify for free or
32     reduced price lunch; and
33          (iii) that has provided transportation to and from the school for a regular school day for
34     students for at least five years.
35          (b) "Local board" means:
36          (i) for a school district, the local school board; or
37          (ii) for a charter school, the charter school governing board.
38          (2) A local board may annually submit a request to the State Board of Education to
39     receive reimbursement for an expense that:
40          (a) the local board incurs transporting a student to or from an eligible school for the
41     regular school day; and
42          (b) the local board does not pay using state funding for pupil transportation described
43     in Section 53F-2-402 or 53F-2-403.
44          (3) (a) Subject to legislative appropriations, and except as provided in Subsection
45     (3)(b), the State Board of Education shall reimburse a local school board for an expense
46     included in a request described in Subsection (2).
47          (b) If the legislative appropriation for this section is insufficient to fund an expense in a
48     request received under Subsection (2), the State Board of Education may reduce a local school
49     board's reimbursement in accordance with the rules described in Subsection (4).
50          (4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
51     State Board of Education shall make rules that establish:
52          (a) requirements for information a local school board shall include in a reimbursement
53     request described in Subsection (2);
54          (b) a deadline by which a local school board shall submit a request described in
55     Subsection (2); and
56          (c) a formula for reducing a local school board's allocation under Subsection (3).
57          (5) Nothing in this section affects a school district's allocation for pupil transportation
58     under Sections 53F-2-402 and 53F-2-403.







Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel