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AN ACT relating to the transportation of students and declaring an emergency. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 156.153 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) All school buses for which bids are made or bid contracts awarded shall meet the 4
standards and specifications of the Kentucky Department of Education. The term 5
"school bus," as used in this section, shall mean any motor vehicle which meets the 6
standards and specifications for school buses as provided by law or by the standards 7
or specifications of the Kentucky Department of Education authorized by law and 8
used solely in transporting school children and school employees to and from 9
school under the supervision and control and at the direction of school authorities, 10
and shall further include school bus accessory equipment and supplies and 11
replacement equipment considered to be reasonably adaptable for purchase from 12
price contract agreements. 13
(2) School buses[Except in cases of emergencies or for the transportation of students 14
with disabilities, only School buses as defined in subsection (1) of this section shall 15
be used for transporting students to and from school along regular bus routes. 16
Districts may use district-owned vehicles that were designed and built by the 17
manufacturer for passenger transportation when transporting nine (9) or fewer 18
passengers, including the driver, for approved school activities. Vehicles used 19
under this subsection] shall be clearly marked as transporting students and shall 20
undergo a[be] safety inspection[inspected] no less than once every thirty (30) days. 21
(3) (a) Districts may also use vehicles owned, leased, or contracted by the district 22
that were designed and built by the manufacturer for passenger 23
transportation of nine (9) or fewer passengers, including the driver, for 24
transporting students to and from school and approved school activities 25
under an alternative transportation plan approved by the Kentucky 26
Department of Education. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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(b) Non-school bus passenger vehicles used under this subsection shall be 1
clearly marked as transporting students and undergo a safety inspection no 2
less than once every thirty (30) days. 3
(c) Non-school bus passenger vehicles used under this subsection shall be 4
operated by an employee or contractor of a local school district that has a 5
valid Class D operator's license. An individual that operates a non-school 6
bus passenger vehicle to transport a student or students without a current 7
valid license required by this paragraph shall be subject to the penalties set 8
forth in subsection (4) of Section 3 of this Act. 9
(d) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative 10
regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to establish: 11
1. Minimum standards and specifications for non-school bus passenger 12
vehicles used under this subsection, including a standard for 13
minimum insurance coverage; 14
2. Minimum route safety standards and pick-up and drop-off protocols 15
for pupil transportation using non-school bus passenger vehicles that 16
prohibit non-school bus passenger vehicles from depositing a student 17
at a location that would require the student to cross a road or 18
intersection to reach the student's destination; and 19
3. Minimum qualifications, training, and drug testing requirements for 20
an individual to be authorized to transport any student to and from 21
school using a non-school bus passenger vehicle. The drug testing 22
requirements shall require an individual to submit to drug testing 23
consistent with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. pt. 40 to be authorized to 24
transport students to and from school using a non-school bus 25
passenger vehicle. 26
(4) As part of its regular procedure for establishing and updating [school bus ]standards 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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and specifications for school buses and non-school bus passenger vehicles, the 1
Kentucky Department of Education shall consider allowing school buses to operate 2
using clean transportation fuels, as defined in KRS 186.750. If the department 3
determines that school buses or non-school bus passenger vehicles may operate 4
using clean transportation fuels while maintaining the same or a higher degree of 5
safety as fuels currently allowed, it shall update its standards and specifications to 6
allow for such use. 7
Section 2. KRS 160.380 is amended to read as follows: 8
(1) As used in this section: 9
(a) "Administrative finding of child abuse or neglect" means a substantiated 10
finding of child abuse or neglect issued by the Cabinet for Health and Family 11
Services that is: 12
1. Not appealed through an administrative hearing conducted in 13
accordance with KRS Chapter 13B; 14
2. Upheld at an administrative hearing conducted in accordance with KRS 15
Chapter 13B and not appealed to a Circuit Court; or 16
3. Upheld by a Circuit Court in an appeal of the results of an 17
administrative hearing conducted in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B; 18
(b) "Alternative education program" means a program that exists to meet the 19
needs of students that cannot be addressed in a traditional classroom setting 20
but through the assignment of students to alternative classrooms, centers, or 21
campuses that are designed to remediate academic performance, improve 22
behavior, or provide an enhanced learning experience. Alternative education 23
programs do not include career or technical centers or departments; 24
(c) "Clear CA/N check" means a letter from the Cabinet for Health and Family 25
Services indicating that there are no administrative findings of child abuse or 26
neglect relating to a specific individual; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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(d) "Relative" means father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, son and 1
daughter; and 2
(e) "Vacancy" means any certified position opening created by the resignation, 3
dismissal, nonrenewal of contract, transfer, or death of a certified staff 4
member of a local school district, or a new position created in a local school 5
district for which certification is required. However, if an employer-employee 6
bargained contract contains procedures for filling certified position openings 7
created by the resignation, dismissal, nonrenewal of contract, transfer, or 8
death of a certified staff member, or creation of a new position for which 9
certification is required, a vacancy shall not exist, unless certified positions 10
remain open after compliance with those procedures. 11
(2) Except as provided in KRS 160.346, the school district personnel actions identified 12
in this section shall be carried out as follows: 13
(a) All appointments, promotions, and transfers of principals, supervisors, 14
teachers, and other public school employees shall be made only by the 15
superintendent of schools, who shall notify the board of the action taken. All 16
employees of the local district shall have the qualifications prescribed by law 17
and by the administrative regulations of the Kentucky Board of Education and 18
of the employing board. Supervisors, principals, teachers, and other 19
employees may be appointed by the superintendent for any school year at any 20
time after February 1 preceding the beginning of the school year. No 21
superintendent of schools shall appoint or transfer himself or herself to 22
another position within the school district; 23
(b) When a vacancy occurs in a local school district, the superintendent shall 24
submit the job posting to the statewide job posting system described in KRS 25
160.152 fifteen (15) days before the position shall be filled. The local school 26
district shall post position openings in the local board office for public 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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viewing; 1
(c) When a vacancy needs to be filled in less than fifteen (15) days' time to 2
prevent disruption of necessary instructional or support services of the school 3
district, the superintendent may seek a waiver from the chief state school 4
officer. If the waiver is approved, the appointment shall not be made until the 5
person recommended for the position has been approved by the chief state 6
school officer. The chief state school officer shall respond to a district's 7
request for waiver or for approval of an appointment within two (2) working 8
days; and 9
(d) When a vacancy occurs in a local district, the superintendent shall conduct a 10
search to locate minority teachers to be considered for the position. The 11
superintendent shall, pursuant to administrative regulations of the Kentucky 12
Board of Education, report annually the district's recruitment process and the 13
activities used to increase the percentage of minority teachers in the district. 14
(3) Restrictions on employment of relatives shall be as follows: 15
(a) No relative of a superintendent of schools shall be an employee of the school 16
district. However, this shall not apply to a relative who is a classified or 17
certified employee of the school district for at least thirty-six (36) months 18
prior to the superintendent assuming office and who is qualified for the 19
position the employee holds. A superintendent's spouse who has previously 20
been employed in a school system may be an employee of the school district. 21
A superintendent's spouse who is employed under this provision shall not hold 22
a position in which the spouse supervises certified or classified employees. A 23
superintendent's spouse may supervise teacher aides and student teachers. 24
However, the superintendent shall not promote a relative who continues 25
employment under an exception of this subsection; 26
(b) No superintendent shall employ a relative of a school board member of the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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district; 1
(c) No principal's relative shall be employed in the principal's school; and 2
(d) A relative that is ineligible for employment under paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of 3
this subsection may be employed as a substitute for a certified or classified 4
employee if the relative is not: 5
1. A regular full-time or part-time employee of the district; 6
2. Accruing continuing contract status or any other right to continuous 7
employment; 8
3. Receiving fringe benefits other than those provided other substitutes; or 9
4. Receiving preference in employment or assignment over other 10
substitutes. 11
(4) No superintendent shall assign a certified or classified staff person to an alternative 12
education program as part of any disciplinary action taken pursuant to KRS 161.011 13
or 161.790 as part of a corrective action plan established pursuant to the local 14
district evaluation plan. 15
(5) No superintendent shall initially employ in any position in the district any person 16
who is a violent offender or has been convicted of a sex crime as defined by KRS 17
17.165 which is classified as a felony or persons with an administrative finding of 18
child abuse or neglect in records maintained by the Cabinet for Health and Family 19
Services. The superintendent may employ, at his or her discretion, except at a 20
Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children program, persons 21
convicted of sex crimes classified as a misdemeanor. 22
(6) Requirements for background checks shall be as follows: 23
(a) A superintendent shall require the following individuals to submit to a 24
national and state criminal background check by the Department of Kentucky 25
State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and have a clear CA/N 26
check, provided by the individual: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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1. Each new certified or classified hire; 1
2. A nonfaculty coach or nonfaculty assistant as defined under KRS 2
161.185; 3
3. A student teacher; 4
4. A school-based decision making council parent member; and 5
5. Any adult who is permitted access to school grounds on a regularly 6
scheduled and continuing basis pursuant to a written agreement for the 7
purpose of providing services directly to a student or students as part of 8
a school-sponsored program or activity; 9
(b) 1. The requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not apply to: 10
a. Classified and certified individuals employed by the school district 11
prior to June 27, 2019; 12
b. Certified individuals who were employed in another certified 13
position in a Kentucky school district within six (6) months of the 14
date of hire and who had previously submitted to a national and 15
state criminal background check and who have a clear CA/N check 16
for the previous employment; or 17
c. Student teachers who have submitted to and provide a copy of a 18
national and state criminal background check by the Department 19
of Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation 20
through an accredited teacher education institution in which the 21
student teacher is enrolled and who have a clear CA/N check. 22
2. The Education Professional Standards Board may promulgate 23
administrative regulations to impose additional qualifications to meet 24
the requirements of Pub. L. No.[Public Law] 92-544; 25
(c) A parent member may serve prior to the receipt of the criminal history 26
background check and CA/N letter required by paragraph (a) of this 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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subsection but shall be removed from the council on receipt by the school 1
district of a report documenting a record of abuse or neglect, or a sex crime or 2
criminal offense against a victim who is a minor as defined in KRS 17.500, or 3
as a violent offender as defined in KRS 17.165, and no further procedures 4
shall be required;[ and] 5
(d) A superintendent may require a volunteer or a visitor to submit to a national 6
and state criminal history background check by the Department of Kentucky 7
State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and have a clear CA/N 8
check, provided by the individual; and 9
(e) The superintendent of a school district operating under an alternative 10
transportation plan approved by the Kentucky Department of Education in 11
accordance with subsection (3) of Section 1 of this Act shall require the 12
driver of any non-school bus passenger vehicle authorized to transport 13
students to and from school pursuant to the alternative transportation plan 14
who does not have a valid commercial driver's license issued in accordance 15
with KRS Chapter 281A with an "S" endorsement to: 16
1. Submit to a national and state criminal background check by the 17
Department of Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of 18
Investigation at least once every three (3) years and a criminal records 19
check conducted in accordance with KRS 27A.090 in all other years; 20
2. Submit to drug testing consistent with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. 21
pt. 40; 22
3. Provide a biannual driving history record check performed by the 23
Transportation Cabinet; 24
4. Provide an annual clear CA/N check; 25
5. Immediately notify the superintendent of any conviction for a violation 26
under KRS Chapter 189 for which penalty points are assessed; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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6. Immediately notify the superintendent of any citation or arrest for a 1
violation of any provision of KRS Chapter 189A. The superintendent 2
shall inform the Kentucky Department of Education of the 3
notification. 4
(7) (a) If a certified or classified position remains unfilled after July 31 or if a 5
vacancy occurs during a school term, a superintendent may employ an 6
individual, who will have supervisory or disciplinary authority over minors, 7
on probationary status pending receipt of the criminal history background 8
check and a clear CA/N check, provided by the individual. Application for the 9
criminal record and a request for a clear CA/N check of a probationary 10
employee shall be made no later than the date probationary employment 11
begins. 12
(b) Employment shall be contingent on the receipt of the criminal history 13
background check documenting that the probationary employee has no record 14
of a sex crime nor as a violent offender as defined in KRS 17.165 and receipt 15
of a letter, provided by the individual, from the Cabinet for Health and Family 16
Services stating the employee is clear to hire based on no administrative 17
findings of child abuse or neglect found through a background check of child 18
abuse and neglect records maintained by the Cabinet for Health and Family 19
Services. 20
(c) Notwithstanding KRS 161.720 to 161.800 or any other statute to the contrary, 21
probationary employment under this section shall terminate on receipt by the 22
school district of a criminal history background check documenting a record 23
of a sex crime or as a violent offender as defined in KRS 17.165 and no 24
further procedures shall be required. 25
(8) The provisions of KRS 161.790 shall apply to terminate employment of a certified 26
employee on the basis of a criminal record other than a record of a sex crime or as a 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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violent offender as defined in KRS 17.165, or on the basis of a CA/N check 1
showing an administrative finding of child abuse or neglect. 2
(9) (a) All fingerprints requested under this section shall be on an applicant 3
fingerprint card provided by the Department of Kentucky State Police. The 4
fingerprint cards shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation 5
from the Department of Kentucky State Police after a state criminal 6
background check is conducted. The results of the state and federal criminal 7
background check shall be sent to the hiring superintendent. Any fee charged 8
by the Department of Kentucky State Police, the Federal Bureau of 9
Investigation, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall be an 10
amount no greater than the actual cost of processing the request and 11
conducting the search. 12
(b) Each application form, provided by the employer to an applicant for a 13
certified or classified position, shall conspicuously state the following: "FOR 14
THIS TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT, STATE LA W REQUIRES A NATIONAL 15
AND STATE CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK AND A 16
LETTER, PROVIDED BY THE INDIVIDUAL, FROM THE CABINET 17
FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES STATING THE APPLICANT 18
HAS NO ADMINISTRATIVE FINDINGS OF CHILD ABUSE OR 19
NEGLECT FOUND THROUGH A BACKG ROUND CHECK OF CHILD 20
ABUSE AND NEGLECT RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE CABINET 21
FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES." 22
(c) Each application form for a district position shall require the applicant to: 23
1. Identify the states in which he or she has maintained residency, 24
including the dates of residency; and 25
2. Provide picture identification. 26
(10) Notwithstanding any provision of the Kentucky Revised Statutes to the contrary, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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when an employee of the school district is charged with any offense which is 1
classified as a felony, the superintendent may transfer the employee to a second 2
position until such time as the employee is found not guilty, the charges are 3
dismissed, the employee is terminated, or the superintendent determines that further 4
personnel action is not required. The employee shall continue to be paid at the same 5
rate of pay he or she received prior to the transfer. If an employee is charged with 6
an offense outside of the Commonwealth, this provision may also be applied if the 7
charge would have been treated as a felony if committed within the 8
Commonwealth. Transfers shall be made to prevent disruption of the educational 9
process and district operations and in the interest of students and staff and shall not 10
be construed as evidence of misconduct. 11
(11) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each certified and classified employee of 12
the school district shall notify the superintendent if he or she has been found by the 13
Cabinet for Health and Family Services to have abused or neglected a child, and if 14
he or she has waived the right to appeal a substantiated finding of child abuse or 15
neglect or if the substantiated incident was upheld upon appeal. Any failure to 16
report this finding shall result in the certified or classified employee being subject 17
to dismissal or termination. 18
(12) The form for requesting a CA/N check shall be made available on the Cabinet for 19
Health and Family Services website. 20
Section 3. KRS 156.990 is amended to read as follows: 21
(1) Any witness who fails, without legal excuse, to attend or to testify, when required 22
by the chief state school officer under these provisions, shall be fined not more than 23
twenty-five dollars ($25) for each offense. 24
(2) Any person who violates any of the provisions of KRS 156.400 to 156.470 shall be 25
fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not more than three 26
(3) months, or both. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS HB 447/EN
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(3) A violation of subsection (1) of KRS 156.483 shall cause the Department of 1
Education to be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than one 2
thousand dollars ($1,000). 3
(4) Any person who operates a non-school bus passenger vehicle to transport a 4
student or students within the Commonwealth without holding a current valid 5
license as required pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of Section 1 of this Act shall be 6
guilty of a Class D felony. 7
Section 4. Whereas achieving efficiency in pupil transportation in the 8
Commonwealth is of paramount importance to schools, students, and parents, an 9
emergency is declared to exist, and this Act takes effect upon its passage and approval by 10
the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law. 11