21-13-320. Student transportation; amount within school foundation program formula for transportation maintenance and operations expenditures and school bus purchases; district reporting requirements.

(a) The amount provided for the transportation of school children within the education resource block grant model pursuant to W.S. 21-13-309(m)(v)(E)(I) shall be computed in accordance with this section.

(b) There shall be an amount computed for each school district equal to the base price amount for bus purchase and lease payment expenditures made by the district during the previous school year pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and for the amount actually expended by the district during the previous school year for:

(i) The maintenance and operation of transportation routes for transporting school children to and from school; and

(ii) The transportation of students to and from student activities authorized by department of education rules. For the purpose of this paragraph, student activities means athletic and nonathletic activities sanctioned by the Wyoming high school activities association and school sponsored athletic and nonathletic activities in grades preceding high school which directly correspond to those high school activities sanctioned by the Wyoming high school activities association. No reimbursement shall be made for transportation expenses for student activities for expenses for transportation in excess of one hundred fifty (150) miles from the Wyoming border into another state.

(c) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

(d) Repealed By Laws 2004, Chapter 74, § 1.

(e) Repealed By Laws 2002, Ch. 76, § 3.

(f) The department of education shall adopt necessary rules and regulations to implement and enforce state standards established under this section and to administer this section. District expenditures computed under subsection (b) of this section shall not include expenditures for employee contributions to the Wyoming retirement system exceeding five and fifty-seven hundredths percent (5.57%) of any member employee's salary. In addition, the department shall, in accordance with procedures prescribed by department rule and regulation, establish a base price for each school bus type or other student transportation vehicle type for the applicable fiscal period that complies with minimum state standards for vehicle specifications and equipment. The department shall also establish a process including competitive bidding which guarantees the acquisition of school buses and other student transportation vehicles approved for reimbursement and complying with state minimum standards and district fleet size restrictions at the established base price for the applicable fiscal year. Department rules shall establish appropriate restrictions on how and under which conditions a school district may procure a school bus or other student transportation vehicle, either through purchase or lease, to ensure that the procurement method used is the most cost effective. School districts shall notify the department of school bus and other student transportation vehicle needs and requirements for the appropriate fiscal year in the manner and within the times prescribed by department rule and regulation, and shall report expenditures, purchases and lease arrangements for the applicable reporting period, including vehicles replaced by purchases and leases, as required by department rule and regulation. The department shall annually review and conduct audits as necessary of information submitted under this section. As authorized under W.S. 21-13-307(b), the department may correct the information reported by districts under this section as necessary to fairly and accurately reflect the data type, classification and format required to administer this section in accordance with law and department rules and regulations.

(g) In addition to subsection (b) of this section and for purchases and leases conducted in a manner consistent with department rules, the transportation adjustment for each district under this section shall include an amount computed under this subsection for the purchase or lease of school buses and other vehicles used primarily for the transportation of students to and from school and to and from school activities. Computations of amounts reimbursed under this subsection shall be based upon the base price established by the department under subsection (f) of this section for the student transportation vehicle type. Amounts included within the adjustment under this subsection shall be subject to the following:

(i) Buses and other vehicles used primarily for student transportation, for which reimbursement is authorized, shall meet state minimum standards for vehicle specifications and equipment and shall be subject to vehicle replacement schedules specified by department rule and regulation;

(ii) The number of buses and other student transportation vehicles comprising a district's fleet shall comply with fleet size standards established by rule of the department, which shall be established to ensure safe and efficient student transportation;

(iii) In consultation with the pupil transportation committee, the department shall by rule establish a replacement schedule for buses and other student transportation vehicles. The replacement schedule shall establish replacement cycles for mileage and age not less than the applicable national averages for replacement of school buses and other student transportation vehicles;

(A) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

(B) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

(C) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

(iv) Paragraph (g)(iii) of this section shall not apply to the purchase or lease of a bus or other student transportation vehicle authorized under this section which expands a district's vehicle fleet and does not replace an existing vehicle, in which case the purchase or lease shall be reimbursed under paragraph (g)(v) of this section at one hundred percent (100%) of the base price;

(v) The adjustment for the purchase or lease of buses and other student transportation vehicles authorized under this subsection shall be equal to:

(A) One-fifth (1/5) of the base price established under subsection (f) of this section for each purchased school bus or other purchased student transportation vehicle for which reimbursement is authorized and which is made by the district during the preceding five (5) years;

(B) The base price established under subsection (f) of this section for lease payments for each school bus or other student transportation vehicle for which reimbursement is authorized and which is made by the district during the prior school year, plus the annual interest charges imposed under the lease arrangement.

(vi) Amounts included within the adjustment for purchases or leases that are fully or partially paid for or rebated under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, 42 U.S.C. § 16131 et seq., or other similar program, shall be made in accordance with department rule and regulation.

(h) As used in this section:

(i) "Lease" means a lease-purchase arrangement entered into by a school district, after a competitive quote or bidding process, for the acquisition and use of a student transportation vehicle approved for reimbursement under this section;

(ii) "Pupil transportation committee" means an advisory committee comprised of school district business managers, student transportation program managers and employees, district superintendents and other district personnel organized by the state department of education to assist the department in developing and maintaining state standards for vehicle specifications and equipment, vehicle fleet regulations and vehicle replacement schedules.

(j) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

(k) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 204, § 4.

(m) No district shall purchase or lease a school bus unless it first demonstrates to the department and the department determines that the school district has in good faith attempted to purchase or lease a bus that will be fully or partially paid for or rebated under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, 42 U.S.C. 16131 et seq., or other similar program.