PRINTER'S NO. 4595
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2961
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY SONNEY, BERNSTINE, BOBACK, CIRESI, DEASY,
DRISCOLL, ECKER, HARKINS, HILL-EVANS, LONGIETTI, MARSHALL,
MILLARD, MOUL, OWLETT, PICKETT AND SCHLOSSBERG,
NOVEMBER 5, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, NOVEMBER 5, 2020
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," providing for school bus contractor
grant program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XIII-F
SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTOR GRANT PROGRAM
Section 1301-F. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Contractor." A school bus contractor based in this
Commonwealth that is contracted by a school district to provide
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pupil transportation in this Commonwealth.
"COVID-19 pandemic." The novel coronavirus as identified in
the Governor's Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on
March 6, 2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020).
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Fund." The School Bus Contractor Fund established under
section 1303-F.
"Program." The School Bus Contractor Grant Program
established under section 1302-F.
"School district." As defined under section 101.
Section 1302-F. School Bus Contractor Grant Program.
(a) Program established.--The School Bus Contractor Grant
Program is established in the department to provide financial
assistance for pupil transportation provided by a contractor or
school district owning its own bus fleet during the COVID-19
pandemic.
(b) Eligibility.--A school district or contractor shall be
eligible if, during the 2020-2021 school year, the school
district or contractor directly provides 50% or less pupil
transportation services than the 2019-2020 school year.
(c) Availability of application.--The department shall
develop and administer an application to a contractor or school
district no later than November 1, 2020, and shall post the
application on its publicly accessible Internet website. Notice
of availability of the application shall be transmitted to the
Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
(d) Application requirements.--The application requirements
shall be limited to contractor's and school district's contact
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information, the specific purpose of the grant specified in
subsection (a) and certification by the applicant that the grant
funds will be used for the stated purpose. A contractor or
school district may submit only one application during the
duration of the program. A school district or contractor shall
certify the amount received by the school district or contractor
for State reimbursement or contract award for the 2019-2020
school year.
(e) Deadline for application.--A contractor or school
district must submit an application for funds no later than
November 30, 2020.
(f) Amount of grant.--The department shall allocate grants
on or before December 30, 2020, to each contractor or school
district that fulfills the application requirements under
subsection (c) in the following amount:
(1) A school district shall receive 10% of the amount
received through the State reimbursement formula for the
2019-2020 school year.
(2) A contractor shall receive 10% of the amount
received by a school district in the 2019-2020 school year.
(f) Audit and monitoring.--The department shall monitor
grant recipients to ensure the appropriate use of grant funds
and compliance with provisions of the program.
Section 1303-F. School Bus Contractor Fund.
(a) Restricted account.--A restricted account is established
in the State Treasury to be known as the School Bus Contractor
Fund.
(b) Appropriation.--The sum of $100,000,000 shall be
appropriated to the department for deposit in the fund from the
COVID-19 Response Restricted Account established under section
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110-C of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as
The Fiscal Code. All money deposited in the fund and the
interest it accrues shall be used solely to award grants under
this article. Money in the fund may not be transferred to
another fund or account or used for purposes other than the
administration of this article.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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