Enrolled Copy H.B. 161
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School Bus Route Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Ashlee Matthews
Senate Sponsor: Karen Kwan
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill amends student eligibility for state-supported transportation.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ amends student eligibility for state-supported transportation; and
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▸ makes technical changes.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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This bill provides a special effective date.
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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53F-2-403, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 507
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 53F-2-403 is amended to read:
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53F-2-403 . Eligibility for state-supported transportation -- Approved bus routes.
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(1) A student eligible for state-supported transportation means:
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(a) except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), a student enrolled in kindergarten through
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grade 6 who lives at least 1-1/2 miles from school;
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(b) a student enrolled in grade 6, if grade 6 is in a middle school, and grades 7 through
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12 who lives at least two miles from school; and
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(c) a student enrolled in a special program offered by a school district and approved by
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the state board for trainable, motor, multiple-disability, or other students with severe
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disabilities who are incapable of walking to school or where it is unsafe for students H.B. 161 Enrolled Copy
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to walk because of their disabling condition, without reference to distance from
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school.
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(2) If a school district implements double sessions as an alternative to new building
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construction, with the approval of the state board, those affected elementary school
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students residing less than 1-1/2 miles from school may be transported one way to or
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from school because of safety factors relating to darkness or other hazardous conditions
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as determined by the local school board.
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(3)(a) The state board shall distribute transportation money to school districts based on:
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(i) an allowance per mile for approved bus routes;
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(ii) an allowance per hour for approved bus routes; and
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(iii) a minimum allocation for each school district eligible for transportation funding.
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(b)(i) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b)(ii), the state board shall distribute
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appropriated transportation funds based on the prior year's eligible transportation
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costs as legally reported under Subsection 53F-2-402(3).
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(ii) The state board shall distribute state appropriations for transportation for fiscal
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years 2021 and 2022 using fiscal year 2019 eligible transportation costs described
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in Subsection 53F-2-402(3).
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(c) The state board shall annually review the allowance per mile and the allowance per
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hour and adjust the allowances to reflect current economic conditions.
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(4)(a) Approved bus routes for funding purposes shall be determined on fall data
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collected by October 1.
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(b) Approved route funding shall be determined on the basis of the most efficient and
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economic routes.
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(5) A local school board may provide for the transportation of students regardless of the
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distance from school, from general funds of the school district.
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Section 2. Effective date.
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This bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
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