SB 18 — AN ACT relating to school bus equipment.

Summary

Amend KRS 156.153 to require that the standards and specifications for accessory equipment and supplies and replacement equipment shall be based on federal safety standards and shall not discriminate among manufacturers unless there is evidence that a specific manufacturer's product is defective or dangerous to use; require the Kentucky Department of Education to provide the list of standards and specification for accessory equipment and supplies and replacement equipment to the Finance and Administration Cabinet for the purpose of maintaining a list of price contracts; create a section of KRS Chapter 45A to require the Finance and Administration Cabinet to maintain a list of price contracts for the procurement of those items; permit school districts with qualifying tire expenses to seek reimbursement from the Kentucky Department of Education.

Bill Text

Compared against the Kentucky Revised Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill updates school bus standards by allowing the use of clean transportation fuels and establishes a requirement for the Finance and Administration Cabinet to maintain a price contract list for related equipment.

• KRS 156.153

  The Kentucky Department of Education shall provide the list of standards and specifications for accessory equipment and supplies and replacement equipment to the Finance and Administration Cabinet for the purposes of maintaining the price contract list required under Section 2 of this Act.

  This amendment adds a requirement for the Kentucky Department of Education to provide standards and specifications to the Finance and Administration Cabinet.

• KRS 156.153

  Districts may also use vehicles owned, leased, or contracted by the district that were designed and built by the manufacturer for passenger transportation of ten (10) or fewer passengers, including the driver, for transporting students to and from school along regular bus routes and approved school activities. → Districts may use district-owned vehicles that were designed and built by the manufacturer for passenger transportation when transporting nine (9) or fewer passengers, including the driver, for approved school activities.

  This change reduces the maximum passenger capacity for vehicles used in approved school activities from ten to nine.

• KRS 156.153

  As part of its regular procedure for establishing and updating school bus standards and specifications, the Kentucky Department of Education shall consider allowing school buses to operate using clean transportation fuels, as defined in KRS 186.750. If the department determines that school buses may operate using clean transportation fuels while maintaining the same or a higher degree of safety as fuels currently allowed, it shall update its standards and specifications to allow for such use.

  This addition mandates the Kentucky Department of Education to consider clean transportation fuels for school buses during standard updates.

• The Finance and Administration Cabinet shall compile and maintain a list detailing the price contracts for the procurement of school bus accessory equipment and supplies and replacement equipment that meet the standards and specifications adopted by the Kentucky Department of Education under Section 1 of this Act. The cabinet shall provide districts with access to the list.

  This creates a new responsibility for the Finance and Administration Cabinet to maintain a price contract list for school bus equipment.

Action History

1. March 29, 2024

   signed by Governor (Acts Ch.26)

2. March 26, 2024

   delivered to Governor

3. March 26, 2024

   enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

4. March 26, 2024

   enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

5. March 26, 2024

   received in Senate

6. March 26, 2024

   3rd reading, passed 96-0

7. March 22, 2024

   posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 25, 2024

8. March 06, 2024

   2nd reading, to Rules

9. March 05, 2024

   reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar

10. February 29, 2024

    to Education (H)

11. February 07, 2024

    to Committee on Committees (H)

12. February 07, 2024

    received in House

13. February 06, 2024

    3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1)

14. February 05, 2024

    passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day

15. February 02, 2024

    posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, February 05, 2024

16. February 02, 2024

    2nd reading, to Rules

17. February 01, 2024

    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

18. January 03, 2024

    to Education (S)

19. January 02, 2024

    to Committee on Committees (S)

20. January 02, 2024

    introduced in Senate

Sponsors

• Matthew Deneen · Primary
• Mike Wilson · Primary

Votes

Subjects