2015--State and National Issues Presented to 67 th FAPT Symposium June 29, 2015 Ronnie H. McCallister, FDOE

Terri Egler, Program Specialist

Jamie Warrington, Program Specialist

Student Transportation Funding Student Transportation folded into FEFP in Student Transportation folded into FEFP in Recent appropriations: Recent appropriations: : $422,674, : $422,674, : $424,875, : $424,875, : $428,737,612 (Proposed) : $428,737,612 (Proposed)

2015 Legislation SB 154, HB 41 (passed)- Would require that school boards and other governmental entities identify and correct conditions that are hazardous along student walking routes to school SB 154, HB 41 (passed)- Would require that school boards and other governmental entities identify and correct conditions that are hazardous along student walking routes to school SB 574 (failed)- Government Procurement; Defining the term “reverse auction”; requiring the Department of Management Services to maintain a program for reverse auctions. SB 574 (failed)- Government Procurement; Defining the term “reverse auction”; requiring the Department of Management Services to maintain a program for reverse auctions.

2015 Legislation SB 346, HB 487 (failed)- 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 (failed)- 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.

2015 Legislative Bills s , F.S., Codifies student eligibility requirements for weighted student transportation funding. 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 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. 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 funding Rules 6A , 6A , and 6A , FAC are scheduled for review at the July 2015, State Board Meeting

School Bus Speed Limit, Rule 6A , FAC Rule 6A , F.A.C., Limits the speed a school bus may go to 55 mph Section F.S., States that school buses must obey the posted speed. Therefore, the limitation to 55 mph in our existing rule will be stricken. Mari M. "Miki" Presley, Assistant General Counsel

Student Transportation General Instructions Consolidates existing membership categories into five categories (admin change, does not change basic eligibility) Consolidates existing membership categories into five categories (admin change, does not change basic eligibility) Other revisions clarify that: Other revisions clarify that: artificial incentives for students to ride only during survey week are prohibited; artificial incentives for students to ride only during survey week are prohibited; career and technical education transportation funding is only for grades 6-12; career and technical education transportation funding is only for grades 6-12; special after-school routes not eligible; special after-school routes not eligible; summer trans funding only eligible for ESY, DJJ, and FEFP-funded programs (effective starting June 2014) summer trans funding only eligible for ESY, DJJ, and FEFP-funded programs (effective starting June 2014)

Hazardous Walking Database Changes: HB 41 Legislation Requires- Hazardous Walking (HW) Database Updates Immediately! If your data currently is without a HW project completion date If your district HW location currently lists N/A as a locations project completion date Corrections must be completed before the last date of Survey 2, October 2015

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)

Florida School Bus Inspection 1140 active school bus inspectors and trainers in the state 1,032 certified Florida school bus inspectors 108 inspector trainers 26 districts have no trainer FAPT Inspection Committee is developing proposed updates to the Florida School Bus Safety Inspection Manual

Driver License Records No movement on charging fees to school districts for bus operator driving records. STMS requested from DOE that a data field be added to bus operator driving records containing the current MEC expiration date. Any NWRDC access problems should go through DOE first, including password support. There are three (3) reports available to all districts each week from NWRDC: dpsXX.EMH.F62454 (P1)(P2)(P3) (Weekly Report) dpsXX.EMH.F62324 (P1)(P2)(P3) (Annual Report) dpsXX.EMH.F71199 (P1)(P2)(P3) (Data Dump)

Report Number Location for new MEC Expiration Date

Fatalities in : Seminole, 8/30/13- Two passengers killed in PV crash with school bus Collier, 10/31/13- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Hillsborough, 11/8/13- Motorcyclist, killed in crash with school bus Escambia, 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) Pasco, 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 bus FSUS, 4/18/14- Bus driver killed PV crash with school bus

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

Fatalities in : Lee, 8/28/14- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Lee, 8/28/14- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Lee, 9/25/14- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Lee, 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 bus Flagler, 1/9/15- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Alachua, 6/4/15- PV driver killed in crash with school bus Alachua, 6/4/15- PV driver killed in crash with school bus

Crash Reporting Reminders: Reporting threshold is $1,000, started Reporting 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 Scheduled changes–Utilizing Florida Law Enforcement Crash Reporting Program Scheduled changes–Utilizing Florida Law Enforcement Crash Reporting Program

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

Charter Schools 675 Charter Schools in Florida; 300K students, and continuing to grow 675 Charter Schools in Florida; 300K students, and continuing to grow Districts must ensure charter schools are following laws and rules relating to health and safety Districts must ensure charter schools are following laws and rules relating to health and safety Currently revising Charter Schools Transportation Resource Guide Currently revising Charter Schools Transportation Resource Guide Spring training for new charter schools and districts was held in May, 2015 Spring training for new charter schools and districts was held in May, 2015

Your 2015 Florida Delegation Members: Jim Beekman Don Carter Richard Duckworth Pat Snell David Solomon Ronnie McCallister

SESPTC Scholarships SESPTC awarded one $2,500 scholarship this year for college expenses to a graduating Florida high school senior SESPTC awarded one $2,500 scholarship this year for college expenses to a graduating Florida high school senior Student receiving award was from Pasco Student receiving award was from Pasco For next year’s opportunity, contact For next year’s opportunity, contact

Hot Topics in Yellow World Alternate Fuel Buses (Vendors Show) Alternate Fuel Buses (Vendors Show) Distracted Driving, (National Incident) Distracted Driving, (National Incident) Illegal Passing/Drive-bys Illegal Passing/Drive-bys FUNDING challenges, service cutbacks, threats to ridership, OLD buses (Lease Purchasing Program) FUNDING challenges, service cutbacks, threats to ridership, OLD buses (Lease Purchasing Program) Records checks; MECs, NRCME (Wednesday Program) Records checks; MECs, NRCME (Wednesday Program) Student Ridership Verification (Wednesday Program) Student Ridership Verification (Wednesday Program)

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