Georgia-2011-HB452-Introduced

To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to revise a provision relating to student transportation; to authorize local boards of education to use vehicles other than school buses for the transport of students to and from school related activities; to provide for minimum requirements; to provide for insurance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, is amended in Code Section 20-2-188, relating to student transportation, by revising subsection (e) as follows:

"(e) The State Board of Education shall establish and require adherence to minimum specifications for vehicles used or contracted to be used by local units of administration for transporting students, including passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles or trucks with a capacity of 15 persons or less, taking into account the factors and circumstances set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section, and shall establish and require adherence to minimum standards and requirements respecting maintenance, repair, inspection, and use of such vehicles and minimum qualifications for the drivers of such vehicles. The state board shall require, monitor, and fund a program of safety instruction in the practices of safe riding and emergency bus evacuation drills for both school bus drivers and students riding school buses."

Said chapter is further amended in Part 1 of Article 22, relating to the powers of state and local school officials with respect to school buses, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

(a) Local boards of education may authorize the use of vehicles other than school buses for the transport of students to and from school related activities, where appropriate. Such vehicles may include passenger cars or multipurpose passenger vehicles or trucks with a capacity of 15 persons or less, including private vehicles.

(b) Local boards shall comply with all requirements established by the State Board of Education pursuant to Code Section 20-2-188, including minimum standards and requirements for maintenance, repair, inspection, and use of such vehicles and minimum qualifications for the drivers of such vehicles. Local boards may establish requirements in addition to such minimum state requirements, in the discretion of the local board.

(c) Local boards are authorized and required to cause policies of insurance to be issued insuring the students being transported to and from school related activities against bodily injury or death at any time resulting from an accident or collision in which such vehicles are involved. The amount of such insurance shall be within the discretion of each local board of education."