PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 143
PRINTER'S NO. 1699
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
15
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY OWLETT, HENNESSEY, CAUSER, IRVIN, SCHLOSSBERG,
HILL-EVANS, CIRESI, JAMES AND PASHINSKI, JANUARY 14, 2021
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 7, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
thorough and comprehensive analysis of the current school bus
driver industry and provide recommendations as to how the
Commonwealth can effectively address the shortage of school
bus drivers.
WHEREAS, Every day school bus drivers are tasked with the
responsibility of transporting our Commonwealth's most precious
cargo - our children - to and from school; and
WHEREAS, It is common practice for a state to ensure that an
individual who operates a school bus to transport school
children has been suitably vetted and screened; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth and the Federal Government have
created laws and regulations requiring that school bus operators
successfully pass knowledge and driving tests, demonstrating
their capability to safely operate a loaded school bus; and
WHEREAS, While these laws and regulations serve as safeguards
to assure the safe transport of school children, the rigorous
qualifications they impose have created greater barriers to
entry into the industry; and
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WHEREAS, Across this Commonwealth, school districts and
school bus companies have been struggling to hire and retain an
adequate number of qualified school bus drivers; and
WHEREAS, At times the shortage of qualified school bus
drivers has resulted in school districts attempting to borrow
school bus drivers from neighboring school districts and
ultimately having no choice but to cancel an entire school day;
and
WHEREAS, Statistics of the Department of Transportation
substantiate that the number of licensed school bus drivers in
this Commonwealth has been on a decline, while the number of
students needing daily school bus transportation has continued
to increase; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a holistic study
utilizing quantitative and qualitative data analyses to better
comprehend the scope of this Commonwealth's current shortage of
properly licensed school bus drivers; and be it further
RESOLVED, THAT THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE JOINT STATE
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION UTILIZE, AT A MINIMUM, INTERMEDIATE UNIT
BOUNDARIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE GEOGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS OF
THIS COMMONWEALTH'S CURRENT SHORTAGE OF PROPERLY LICENSED SCHOOL
BUS DRIVERS; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission provide
recommendations as to how the Commonwealth can effectively
address the shortage of school bus drivers and increase the
number of qualified school bus drivers to meet the needs of the
children in this Commonwealth who depend on school bus
transportation on a daily basis; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the recommendations be consistent with the
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Federal Government's minimum qualifications for the licensing of
school bus drivers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
establish an advisory committee composed, at a minimum, of the
following:
(1) Representatives of the Department of Education.
(2) Representatives of the Department of Transportation.
(3) Representatives of the Pennsylvania School Bus
Association;
(1) THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION OR A DESIGNEE.
(2) THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION OR A DESIGNEE.
(3) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL BUS
ASSOCIATION.
(4) A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL BOARDS
ASSOCIATION;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report with its findings and recommendations within 12 months of
the passage of this resolution to the Education and
Transportation Committees of the House of Representatives.
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