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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends eligibility requirements for state-supported transportation.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ requires that the distance between a student's residence and school for purposes of
13 determining eligibility for state-supported transportation shall be measured along a
14 safe route in the child access routing plan for the student's school.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53F-2-403, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 186 and 408
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23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 53F-2-403 is amended to read:
25 53F-2-403. Eligibility for state-supported transportation -- Approved bus routes.
26 (1) A student eligible for state-supported transportation means:
27 (a) a student enrolled in kindergarten through grade 6 who lives at least 1-1/2 miles
28 from school;
29 (b) a student enrolled in grades 7 through 12 who lives at least two miles from school;
30 and
31 (c) a student enrolled in a special program offered by a school district and approved by
32 the state board for trainable, motor, multiple-disability, or other students with severe
33 disabilities who are incapable of walking to school or where it is unsafe for students to walk
34 because of their disabling condition, without reference to distance from school.
35 (2) If a school district implements double sessions as an alternative to new building
36 construction, with the approval of the state board, those affected elementary school students
37 residing less than 1-1/2 miles from school may be transported one way to or from school
38 because of safety factors relating to darkness or other hazardous conditions as determined by
39 the local school board.
40 (3) For purposes determining eligibility for state-supported transportation under this
41 section, the distance between a student's residence and the school shall be measured along a
42 safe route in the child access routing plan described in Subsection 53G-4-402(17), for the
43 student's school.
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45 based on:
46 (i) an allowance per mile for approved bus routes;
47 (ii) an allowance per hour for approved bus routes; and
48 (iii) a minimum allocation for each school district eligible for transportation funding.
49 (b) The state board shall distribute appropriated transportation funds based on the prior
50 year's eligible transportation costs as legally reported under Subsection 53F-2-402(3).
51 (c) The state board shall annually review the allowance per mile and the allowance per
52 hour and adjust the allowances to reflect current economic conditions.
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54 collected by October 1.
55 (b) Approved route funding shall be determined on the basis of the most efficient and
56 economic routes.
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58 district superintendents, business officials, school district transportation supervisors, and state
59 board employees shall serve as a review committee for addressing school transportation needs,
60 including recommended approved bus routes.
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62 of the distance from school, from general funds of the school district.