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Committee restores older age/mileage limits for after‑school program buses
Summary
SB1951 amends thresholds for buses used in after‑school programs — returning service-life limits to 20 years / 300,000 miles — after testimony from Boys & Girls Clubs that the change will preserve service and reduce replacement costs.
Senator Lowe said SB1951 is a corrective measure to return the statutory service-life and mileage thresholds for buses used in after-school programs to the levels in place prior to earlier changes. He described how prior revisions had created an inspection burden and reduced the useful life for buses used by after‑school providers.
Kevin Womby, who identified himself as state board president for the Boys & Girls Club of Tennessee, described the operational impact: the change "gives us the ability to continue to serve the children that... so desperately need our help," and he told the committee that "buses cost upwards of $150,000." After adopting the amendment that clarifies the change applies to after‑school service (not regular routing), the committee voted unanimously to move the bill to the calendar.
Supporters framed the amendment as preserving service continuity for nonprofit and school-based after‑school programs while maintaining existing safety inspections; no changes to inspection requirements were reported during the hearing.
