Senate Bill 1951, also known as House Bill 1856, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, regarding school transportation regulations. The bill introduces a new provision that allows conventional or Class D school buses used exclusively for transporting students to after-school programs to remain in service until they reach either twenty years from their in-service date or accumulate three hundred thousand miles of recorded travel, whichever occurs later. After reaching this threshold, the bus can continue to operate for the remainder of the school year, but must be replaced or discontinued at the end of that school year. Additionally, the bus owner is required to notify the department of safety in writing when the bus reaches the specified limits.

The bill also removes the previous limitation that restricted the use of school buses to a maximum of eighteen years from their in-service date. This change provides greater flexibility for school districts in managing their transportation resources while ensuring that safety standards are maintained. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the importance of public welfare in its implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-2109(b), 49-6-2109, 49-6-2109(b)(4)