The bill significantly alters the existing transportation funding formula, providing greater financial support to districts with higher ridership and costs. For the fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the legislation allocates up to $18 million from the General Revenue Fund specifically for pupil transportation, in addition to $50 million designated for grants to districts to replace aging school buses. By establishing a clearer framework for efficiency payments based on ridership and transportation costs per mile, HB582 encourages school districts to optimize their transportation services.
Summary
House Bill 582 aims to improve the transportation services provided to students in Ohio's public school system. Titled the School Busing Improvement Act, the bill mandates changes in how school districts calculate their transportation costs and funding from the state. It introduces an adjusted funding model that takes into account the number of qualifying riders and the transportation costs incurred by districts, aiming for fairer distribution of state transportation funds based on these metrics.
Contention
While the bill has garnered support for increasing funding and providing a structured approach to transportation management, it has faced criticism regarding the potential bureaucratic complexities it introduces. Stakeholders express concern that the requirements for reporting and compliance may overwhelm smaller school districts with limited administrative resources. Furthermore, the bill's amendments and repeals of previous transportation guidelines have raised questions about how they may affect specific services currently in place, particularly for students with disabilities and various community arrangements.