SPONSOR: Ealy
This bill enacts laws relating to school buses. In its main provisions the bill:
(1) Provides that a contract between a school district and a party contracting to provide transportation services to the school district is jointly renewable at the end of the contract term for a term not to exceed 15 years, and must include all of the terms of the previous contract and any provisions increasing rates based on increased costs;
(2) Provides that a continuing contract for the lease or rental of school buses may be made for a term not to exceed 15 years, except that if the school district can exercise an option either to purchase the buses or cancel the lease at the end of each annual period during the contract, the contract may be made for a term not to exceed 20 years;
(3) Authorizes a contract to be negotiated annually within the contract period when economic factors indicate negotiation is necessary to maintain an equitable pricing structure. Renegotiation is subject to the approval of both contracting parties. Any rental, lease, or lease-purchase of a school bus must comply with Chapter 177, RSMo;
(4) Defines "school bus" for the purpose of the zero-emission provision and excludes specific meanings;
(5) Provides that beginning January 1, 2035, 100% of all newly purchased or contracted school buses must be zero-emission vehicles, where feasible;
(6) Provides that when a school district determines that the purchase or lease of a zero-emission school bus is not feasible due to both terrain and route constraints, it may request a one-time extension for a term not to exceed five years, in order to meet the zero-emission by 2035 requirement, provided the following conditions are met:
(a) The school district reasonably demonstrates that a daily planned bus route for transporting pupils to and from school cannot be serviced through available zero-emission technology in 2035; and
(b) The Department of Natural Resources, consulting with the Missouri air conservation commission, receives and evaluates a school district's request, and grants a one-time extension based on the local school district reasonably demonstrating the condition described above;
(7) Provides that beginning January 1, 2040, if a school district with an average daily attendance of 350 or less determines that the purchase or lease of a zero-emission school bus in not feasible due to both terrain and route constraints, the school district may request annual extensions with the last extension expiring on January 1, 2045 provided the following conditions are met:
(a) The school district reasonably demonstrates that a daily planned bus route for transporting pupils to and from school cannot be serviced through available zero-emission technology in the period in which the annual waiver is sought; and
(b) The Department of Natural Resources, consulting with the Missouri air conservation commission, receives and evaluates a school district's request, and grants the annual extension based on the local school district reasonably demonstrating the condition described above.
Statutes affected: