Lawmakers introduce RS 32457 to clarify school transportation reimbursements

Representative Dan Garner of District 28 asked the House Education Committee to introduce RS 32457, a cleanup bill that clarifies how transportation budgets reimburse districts for pupil transport and extends reimbursement eligibility to authorized alternate operations beyond traditional yellow buses.

Garner said the bill replaces an older, complicated formula and explicitly allows reimbursement when districts use small passenger vans, cars or alternate means to transport pupils, including travel to CTE programs. He told the committee the bill does not change the total funds available but clarifies how the funds are allocated and removes outdated language from the prior formula.

Committee members asked technical questions. Representative Harris asked what the struck language covering page 3 line 40 through page 4 line 34 contained; Garner said that was the old redistribution formula. Representative Clow noted an older $7.5 million adjustment that dated from the 2010 recession had been left in statute and said removing it was “well overdue.” Clow also asked why the bill sets reimbursement at 85 percent for regular routes and 103 percent for hardship routes; Garner said 85 percent reflected historical practice and that hardship routes (gravel roads, remote hills) receive a higher reimbursement percentage.

Representative Harris asked how the change would affect districts that operate their own bus fleets; Garner said districts operating their own transport would continue to be reimbursed at 85 percent. Representative Cloud moved to introduce the RS; the committee approved the introduction on a voice vote and the measure will be scheduled for a full hearing.