1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; allowing school districts to 
  1.3             employ school bus monitors; appropriating money; 
  1.4             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.5             chapter 169. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [169.4431] [SAFETY OF SCHOOL CHILDREN; PUPIL 
  1.8   MANAGEMENT.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [BUS MONITORS.] A school district may 
  1.10  employ adult bus monitors.  If a district employs adult bus 
  1.11  monitors, an adult bus monitor must be at least 18 years of age 
  1.12  and be an employee of the school district that is providing or 
  1.13  contracting for the pupil transportation service. 
  1.14     Subd. 2.  [BUS MONITOR SELECTION.] Before hiring a school 
  1.15  bus monitor, a school district must conduct a criminal records 
  1.16  check of the applicant.  An applicant must be rejected if the 
  1.17  criminal records check indicates that the applicant has 
  1.18  committed a crime for which a school bus driver endorsement may 
  1.19  be canceled under section 171.3215. 
  1.20     Subd. 3.  [BUS MONITOR TRAINING.] Upon employment, a school 
  1.21  district shall provide each bus monitor with training on state 
  1.22  and local transportation laws, rules, regulations, and policies; 
  1.23  school bus equipment; and methods to maintain orderly conduct 
  1.24  and student safety. 
  1.25     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  2.1      $10,000,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 1998 from the 
  2.2   general fund to the commissioner of children, families, and 
  2.3   learning to make grants to school districts for school bus 
  2.4   safety.  The commissioner shall consider the size of a school 
  2.5   district's bus fleet and its safety equipment needs when 
  2.6   awarding grants under this section.  Of this appropriation: 
  2.7      $6,520,000 is for grants to districts for employment of 
  2.8   adult bus monitors.  A district may apply for a grant of $4,000 
  2.9   per adult bus monitor per year.  The commissioner shall not 
  2.10  award additional grants for adult bus monitors once the district 
  2.11  has reached a ratio of one adult bus monitor for each ten school 
  2.12  buses operated by or contracted for by the school district.  
  2.13  This ratio includes any monitors already employed by the school 
  2.14  district. 
  2.15     $2,980,000 is for video cameras.  The commissioner may 
  2.16  award grants for video cameras and video camera boxes. 
  2.17     $500,000 is for grants for strobe lights.  A school 
  2.18  district may apply for a grant to fund the purchase and 
  2.19  installation of a strobe light on each school bus. 
  2.20     This appropriation is available until June 30, 1999. 
  2.21     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.22     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.