1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; amending authority for third-party road tests for school 
1.3 	bus drivers; making technical changes;amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 
1.4 	123A.21, subdivision 7; 171.3213.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 123A.21, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 7.Educational programs and services. (a) The board of directors of each SC 
1.8 	shall submit annually a plan to the members. The plan shall identify the programs and 
1.9 	services which are suggested for implementation by the SC during the following year and 
1.10 	shall contain components of long-range planning determined by the SC. These programs 
1.11 	and services may include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
1.12 	(1) administrative services;
1.13 	(2) curriculum development;
1.14 	(3) data processing;
1.15 	(4) distance learning and other telecommunication services;
1.16 	(5) evaluation and research;
1.17 	(6) staff development;
1.18 	(7) media and technology centers;
1.19 	(8) publication and dissemination of materials;
1.20 	(9) pupil personnel services;
2.1 	(10) planning;
2.2 	(11) secondary, postsecondary, community, adult, and adult vocational education;
2.3 	(12) teaching and learning services, including services for students with special talents 
2.4 	and special needs;
2.5 	(13) employee personnel services;
2.6 	(14) vocational rehabilitation;
2.7 	(15) health, diagnostic, and child development services and centers;
2.8 	(16) leadership or direction in early childhood and family education;
2.9 	(17) community services;
2.10 	(18) shared time programs;
2.11 	(19) fiscal services and risk management programs, including health insurance programs 
2.12 	providing reinsurance or stop loss coverage;
2.13 	(20) technology planning, training, and support services;
2.14 	(21) health and safety services;
2.15 	(22) student academic challenges; and
2.16 	(23) cooperative purchasing services; and
2.17 	(24) third-party testing of school bus drivers.
2.18 	An SC is subject to regulation and oversight by the commissioner of commerce under 
2.19 	the insurance laws of this state when operating a health reinsurance program pursuant to 
2.20 	clause (19) providing reinsurance or stop loss coverage.
2.21 	(b) A group health, dental, or long-term disability coverage program provided by one 
2.22 	or more service cooperatives may provide coverage to nursing homes licensed under chapter 
2.23 	144A and to boarding care homes licensed under sections 144.50 to 144.56 and certified 
2.24 	for participation in the medical assistance program located in this state.
2.25 	(c) A group health, dental, or long-term disability coverage program provided by one 
2.26 	or more service cooperatives:
2.27 	(1) must rebid contracts for insurance and third-party administration at least every four 
2.28 	years. The contracts may be regional or statewide in the discretion of the SC; and
3.1 	(2) may determine premiums for its health, dental, or long-term disability coverage 
3.2 	individually for specific employers or may determine them on a pooled or other basis 
3.3 	established by the SC.

3.4 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.3213, is amended to read:
3.5 	171.3213 THIRD-PARTY TESTING OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.
3.6 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For purposes of this section, "road test" includes any necessary 
3.7 	endorsement tests to operate a school bus.
3.8 		Subd. 2.Bilateral agreements. (a) A school district that is designated as a third-party 
3.9 	testing program and owns or operates school buses may enter into an agreement with other 
3.10 	school districts to administer the road test to the other districts' school bus driver employees.
3.11 	(b) A school bus company that is designated as a third-party testing program and owns 
3.12 	or operates school buses may enter into an agreement with other school bus companies to
3.13 	administer the road test to the other companies' school bus driver employees.
3.14 	(c) A third-party testing program may be reimbursed by the tested driver's school district 
3.15 	or company. The agreement must be submitted to the commissioner for approval. A certified 
3.16 	third-party tester must be employed by a school district or a school bus company providing 
3.17 	the testing services.
3.18 		Subd. 3.Service cooperatives. (a) The commissioner may designate a service cooperative 
3.19 	organized under section 123A.21 as a third-party testing program.
3.20 	(b) A service cooperative that is designated as a third-party testing program may 
3.21 	administer the road test to an employee of a school district that (1) is a member of the service 
3.22 	cooperative, and (2) owns or operates school buses.