SF 3108

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/15/2022 08:29am

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; creating the transportation options program to address
the negative impacts of COVID-19 on pupil transportation; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Notification. new text end

new text begin Before the start of each school year, a district must notify
parents or guardians of the transportation options program under this section. The notice
must include information on how to apply for and receive transportation reimbursement.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin A parent or guardian of a public or nonpublic school pupil may
apply for transportation reimbursement when the pupil's transportation services have been
negatively impacted by COVID-19 and:
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new text begin (1) the pupil lives two miles or more from the serving school;
new text end

new text begin (2) the pupil lives in a full-service school zone; or
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new text begin (3) transportation is deemed necessary by the school board because of distance, traffic,
or other conditions.
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new text begin The pupil may attend school in the resident district or a nonresident district. A parent or
guardian receiving transportation reimbursement must voluntarily surrender transportation
privileges under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.88, subdivision 2, or must have had
transportation services provided under Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.86, that were
interrupted due to a change in the district's instructional model as a result of COVID-19. A
parent or guardian claiming transportation reimbursement for a pupil under Minnesota
Statutes, section 124D.03, subdivision 8, or 124E.15, paragraph (e), is not eligible for
transportation reimbursement under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Transportation reimbursement. new text end

new text begin A parent or guardian of a public or nonpublic
school pupil may apply to the pupil's resident district for reimbursement for transporting
the pupil to and from the pupil's school. The state must provide state aid to a district in an
amount sufficient to reimburse the parent or guardian for the necessary transportation costs
under this section. For purposes of this section, "necessary transportation costs" means the
cost of transportation in a private vehicle, taxi, or shared vehicle as a result of COVID-19.
The reimbursement may not exceed the pupil's actual cost of transportation or ....... per mile
traveled, whichever is less. Reimbursement may not be paid for more than 250 miles per
week.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Transportation aid formulas; ineligible. new text end

new text begin Transportation provided under this
section must not be included in calculations for transportation aid under Minnesota Statutes,
section 123B.92, or the pupil transportation adjustment under Minnesota Statutes, section
126C.10, subdivision 18a.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective only for the 2022-2023 school year, the
2023-2024 school year, and the 2024-2025 school year.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the state fiscal recovery federal fund
to the commissioner of education for reimbursement of transportation costs under the
transportation options program for the 2022-2023 school year, the 2023-2024 school year,
and the 2024-2025 school year.
new text end

new text begin (b) For the purposes of this act, "state fiscal recovery federal fund" means funds received
by the state from the state fiscal recovery fund in the American Rescue Plan Act, Public
Law 117-2. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until December 31, 2026. Any
funds not obligated by eligible organizations by November 15, 2024, must be returned to
the commissioner of management and budget.
new text end