2015 State and National Issues Presented to FAPT Mid-year Transportation Directors Meeting February 12, 2015 Ronnie H. McCallister, Director School Transportation Florida Department of Education

2015 Legislation--Proposed Student Trans. Appropriations (as of 2/12/15) -Student Trans. Appropriations (as of 2/12/15) - Governor’s budget rec. for is $443M, still within FEFPGovernor’s budget rec. for is $443M, still within FEFP Governor’s budget rec. for is $436M, still within FEFPGovernor’s budget rec. for is $436M, still within FEFP

2015 Legislation--Proposed SB 154, HB 41- Would require that school boards and other governmental entities identify and correct conditions that are hazardous along student walking routes to schoolSB 154, HB 41- Would require that school boards and other governmental entities identify and correct conditions that are hazardous along student walking routes to school SB 574- Government Procurement; Defining the term “reverse auction”; requiring the Department of Management Services to maintain a program for reverse auctions; authorizing the Department of Education to use reverse auctions and other online procurement programs in assisting district school boards with transportation services contracts; authorizing the Board of Governors to adopt regulations establishing procedures governing a state university’s participation in reverse auctions and other online procurement programs, etc.SB 574- Government Procurement; Defining the term “reverse auction”; requiring the Department of Management Services to maintain a program for reverse auctions; authorizing the Department of Education to use reverse auctions and other online procurement programs in assisting district school boards with transportation services contracts; authorizing the Board of Governors to adopt regulations establishing procedures governing a state university’s participation in reverse auctions and other online procurement programs, etc.

2015 Legislation--Proposed SB 346, HB 487- Revises wording s to state that a person operating a vehicle passing a stopped school bus that displays a stop- arm signal on the right side commits reckless driving punishable as provided in s Removes references to require mandatory hearing. Adds an additional $65 mandatory fine for EMSTF; minimum fine is uniform regardless of which side you pass.SB 346, HB 487- Revises wording s to state that a person operating a vehicle passing a stopped school bus that displays a stop- arm signal on the right side commits reckless driving punishable as provided in s Removes references to require mandatory hearing. Adds an additional $65 mandatory fine for EMSTF; minimum fine is uniform regardless of which side you pass.

FDOE Lesgislative Package s , F.S.,s , F.S., Codifies student eligibility requirements for weighted student transportation funding. Clarifies that passenger cars and boats may be used to transport students who are isolated, homeless or in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Clarifies that only students who generate FTE through the FEFP during the summer are eligible for student transportation funding.

Chapter 6A-1, and 6A-3, FAC, Update: Rule 6A , FAC, changes were adopted (May 2014) to clarify which students transported in PV were eligible for fundingRule 6A , FAC, changes were adopted (May 2014) to clarify which students transported in PV were eligible for funding Rules 6A , 6A , and 6A , FAC are scheduled for review at the April 2015, State Board MeetingRules 6A , 6A , and 6A , FAC are scheduled for review at the April 2015, State Board Meeting

School Bus Speed Limit, Rule 6A , FAC Hi Ronnie, Per our discussion, I took a further look at the issue of whether our Rule 6A , F.A.C., can limit the speed a school bus may go to 55 mph in light of the legislative changes to section Based on the legislative history, it is clear that by deleting the previously existing limit of 55 mph, and leaving only the restriction that school buses must obey the posted speed, the legislature intended that the restriction to 55 mph would no longer apply and school buses can go up to the posted speed limit. Therefore, I think the limitation to 55 mph in our existing rule needs to be stricken. Mari M. "Miki" Presley, Assistant General Counsel

Legislation, Statutes, and Rules (Florida legislative bills and statutes) (Florida legislative bills and statutes) (Florida rules and statutes, especially Chapter 6A-3, FAC, and Sections to , and , F.S.) (Florida rules and statutes, especially Chapter 6A-3, FAC, and Sections to , and , F.S.) (federal rulemaking— dockets and public comments) (federal rulemaking— dockets and public comments)

Fatalities in : Seminole, 8/30/13- Two passengers killed in PV crash with school busSeminole, 8/30/13- Two passengers killed in PV crash with school bus Collier, 10/31/13- PV driver killed in crash with school busCollier, 10/31/13- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Hillsborough, 11/8/13- Motorcyclist, killed in crash with school busHillsborough, 11/8/13- Motorcyclist, killed in crash with school bus Escambia, 4/14/14- Motorcyclist, killed in crash with school busEscambia, 4/14/14- Motorcyclist, killed in crash with school bus

Fatalities in : St. Lucie, 4/7/14- Pedestrian student killed by car (not school bus related)St. Lucie, 4/7/14- Pedestrian student killed by car (not school bus related) Pasco, 4/9/14- PV driver killed in crash with school busPasco, 4/9/14- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Duval, 4/11/14- Driver and passenger were killed in multi-vehicle crash with school busDuval, 4/11/14- Driver and passenger were killed in multi-vehicle crash with school bus FSUS, 4/18/14- Bus driver killed PV crash with school busFSUS, 4/18/14- Bus driver killed PV crash with school bus

Fatalities in : Escambia, 5/2/14- PV driver killed in crash with school busEscambia, 5/2/14- PV driver killed in crash with school bus

Fatalities in (as of 2/9/15): Lee, 8/28/14- PV driver killed in crash with school busLee, 8/28/14- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Lee, 9/25/14- PV driver killed in crash with school busLee, 9/25/14- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Charlotte, 10/2/14- Pedestrian student killed by PV (not school bus related)Charlotte, 10/2/14- Pedestrian student killed by PV (not school bus related) Flagler, 1/9/15- PV driver killed in crash with school busFlagler, 1/9/15- PV driver killed in crash with school bus

Crash Reporting Reminders: Reporting threshold is $1,000, started 07-08Reporting threshold is $1,000, started DOE is continuing to require that districts reconcile district-reported numbers (DOE system) with police reports (DHSMV system)DOE is continuing to require that districts reconcile district-reported numbers (DOE system) with police reports (DHSMV system) DOE receives daily clippings from DHSMV of ALL fatal crashes in Florida??DOE receives daily clippings from DHSMV of ALL fatal crashes in Florida??

FATAL Crash Reporting Districts should provide immediate notice of any fatal crash to FDOE as soon as practicalDistricts should provide immediate notice of any fatal crash to FDOE as soon as practical Report by phone call and follow up with crash report formReport by phone call and follow up with crash report form Helps district and FDOE answer immediate questions from administrators, mediaHelps district and FDOE answer immediate questions from administrators, media Info is always treated as preliminaryInfo is always treated as preliminary Not meant as substitute for regular FDOE and police crash reportingNot meant as substitute for regular FDOE and police crash reporting

Parent-Student Safety Instructions Safety instructions must be provided annually, in writing, as required by Rule 6A Safety instructions must be provided annually, in writing, as required by Rule 6A DOE’s “Are We There Yet?” brochure can be printed for parents and othersDOE’s “Are We There Yet?” brochure can be printed for parents and others Available at 5/urlt/ brochure.pdf linkAvailable at 5/urlt/ brochure.pdf link 5/urlt/ brochure.pdf 5/urlt/ brochure.pdf

Charter Schools Now 610 in Florida; 299K students, and continuing to grow (as of school year)Now 610 in Florida; 299K students, and continuing to grow (as of school year) Districts must ensure charter schools are following laws and rules relating to health and safetyDistricts must ensure charter schools are following laws and rules relating to health and safety Currently revising Charter Schools Transportation Resource GuideCurrently revising Charter Schools Transportation Resource Guide More to come tomorrow in presentation by Adam Emerson, FDOE Director, Charter SchoolsMore to come tomorrow in presentation by Adam Emerson, FDOE Director, Charter Schools

National Congress on School Transportation, May 17-20, 2015 Purpose is to update the National School Transportation Specifications and ProceduresPurpose is to update the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures Florida’s delegation: Jim Beekman, Richard Duckworth, Jay McInnis, Pat Snell, David Solomon, ?????, and Ronnie McCallisterFlorida’s delegation: Jim Beekman, Richard Duckworth, Jay McInnis, Pat Snell, David Solomon, ?????, and Ronnie McCallister Additional info at info at

SESPTC Scholarships SESPTC- Deadline is May 31; awarding one $2,500 scholarship for 2015 college expenses of one graduating high school senior; parent or legal guardian must have been an active Florida public school transportation employee meeting income criteria (max $75K AGI) for each of the past three tax yearsSESPTC- Deadline is May 31; awarding one $2,500 scholarship for 2015 college expenses of one graduating high school senior; parent or legal guardian must have been an active Florida public school transportation employee meeting income criteria (max $75K AGI) for each of the past three tax years For more info, contact more info, contact

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