This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance safety standards for school bus transportation, specifically addressing the mixing of elementary and middle school-aged children on bus routes. It introduces a new requirement that mandates the presence of a second adult on the bus whenever elementary or pre-kindergarten aged children (defined as pre-k through 4th grade) are transported alongside middle school-aged children or older. This measure aims to ensure better supervision and safety for younger students during their commute.

Additionally, the bill reaffirms existing standards for the duration of school bus transportation times, which are set at thirty minutes for elementary students, forty-five minutes for middle school students, and sixty minutes for high school students. It also includes provisions that restrict county boards from creating new bus routes that exceed these recommended times without proper approval from the state board. Overall, the bill seeks to improve the safety and efficiency of school transportation for students in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2E-5d