156.153 School bus standards -- "School bus" defined -- Standards and
675 words·~3 min read·
/ky/156-153A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
specifications for accessory equipment and supplies and replacement
equipment -- Standards for use of non-school bus passenger vehicles -- Use of
clean transportation fuels.
(a)All school buses for which bids are made or bid contracts awarded shall meet
the standards and specifications of the Kentucky Department of Education.
The term "school bus," as used in this section, shall mean any motor vehicle
which meets the standards and specifications for school buses as provided by
law or by the standards or specifications of the Kentucky Department of
Education authorized by law and used solely in transporting school children
and school employees to and from school under the supervision and control
and at the direction of school authorities, and shall further include school bus
accessory equipment and supplies and replacement equipment considered to
be reasonably adaptable for purchase from price contract agreements.
(b)The standards and specifications for accessory equipment and supplies and
replacement equipment under paragraph
(a)of this subsection shall be based
on federal safety standards and shall not discriminate among manufacturers
unless the Kentucky Department of Education finds evidence that a specific
manufacturer's product is defective or dangerous to use.
(c)The Kentucky Department of Education shall provide the list of standards and
specifications for accessory equipment and supplies and replacement
equipment to the Finance and Administration Cabinet for the purposes of
maintaining the price contract list required under KRS 45A.489.
(2)School buses shall be clearly marked as transporting students and shall undergo a
safety inspection no less than once every thirty
(30)days.
(a)Districts may also use vehicles owned, leased, or contracted by the district
that were designed and built by the manufacturer for passenger transportation
of nine
(9)or fewer passengers, including the driver, for transporting students
to and from school and approved school activities under an alternative
transportation plan approved by the Kentucky Department of Education.
(b)Non-school bus passenger vehicles used under this subsection shall be clearly
marked as transporting students and undergo a safety inspection no less than
once every thirty
(30)days. However, non-school bus passenger vehicles that
are not for daily use shall not be required to be inspected more frequently than
once every three
(3)months.
(c)Non-school bus passenger vehicles used under this subsection shall be
operated by an employee or contractor of a local school district that has a
valid Class D operator's license. An individual that operates a non-school bus
passenger vehicle to transport a student or students without a current valid
license required by this paragraph shall be subject to the penalties set forth in
KRS 156.990(4).
(d)The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations
in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to establish:
1. Minimum standards and specifications for non-school bus passenger
vehicles used under this subsection, including a standard for minimum
insurance coverage;
2. Minimum route safety standards and pick-up and drop-off protocols for
pupil transportation using non-school bus passenger vehicles that
prohibit non-school bus passenger vehicles from depositing a student at
a location that would require the student to cross a road or intersection
to reach the student's destination; and
3. Minimum qualifications, training, and drug testing requirements for an
individual to be authorized to transport any student to and from school
using a non-school bus passenger vehicle. The drug testing requirements
shall require an individual to submit to drug testing consistent with the
requirements of 49 C.F.R. pt. 40 to be authorized to transport students to
and from school using a non-school bus passenger vehicle.
(4)As part of its regular procedure for establishing and updating standards and
specifications for school buses and non-school bus passenger vehicles, the
Kentucky Department of Education shall consider allowing school buses to operate
using clean transportation fuels, as defined in KRS 186.750. If the department
determines that school buses or non-school bus passenger vehicles may operate
using clean transportation fuels while maintaining the same or a higher degree of
safety as fuels currently allowed, it shall update its standards and specifications to
allow for such use.