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SB 1044

State Board of Education - Student Transportation - Alternative School Vehicles

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dalya Attar

Allows local systems to use alternative school vehicles (taxi, charter, or TNC-related) for student transport with safety inspections and recordkeeping requirements.

First Reading Senate Rules
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Bill Summary · SB 1044

SB 1044 — State Board of Education — Student Transportation — Alternative School Vehicles

Status: First Reading, Senate Rules (Introduced Jan 31, 2025)
Primary subject: Student transportation; State Board of Education regulations
Effective date (per bill): July 1, 2025

Purpose / Intent

SB 1044 directs the Maryland State Board of Education to adopt regulations permitting local school systems to use “alternative school vehicles” for transporting students to and from school. The bill is designed to expand allowable transportation options (including taxis, commercial motor coaches, and transportation‑network‑operator vehicles) while establishing basic inspection and recordkeeping standards intended to protect student safety.

Key provisions

  • State Board duty: Requires the State Board of Education to promulgate regulations allowing the use of alternative school vehicles for school transportation.
  • When allowed:
    • If a county board of education determines it is necessary to own, operate, or contract for an alternative school vehicle to transport students; or
    • If the vehicle is one of the following:
    • a taxicab;
    • a commercial motor coach; or
    • a vehicle operated by a transportation network operator (as defined in Public Utilities §10‑101).
  • Definitions and cross‑references:
    • “Alternative school vehicle” and “multifunction school activity bus” are defined by reference to COMAR 13A.06.07.01.
    • “Type I” and “Type II” school vehicle cross‑referenced to Transportation Article §§ 11‑173 and 11‑174.
  • Safety and inspection requirements:
    • Alternative school vehicles and multifunction school activity buses allowed under the regulations must undergo two inspections each school year, spaced more than 120 days apart.
    • Inspections must be performed by technicians certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
    • Inspection records must be maintained either by the contracted transportation provider or, if the local school system owns the vehicle, by the system’s transportation office.
  • Equipment considerations: The bill’s language addresses applicability “regardless of whether the vehicle” transports more than one student or has particular equipment (e.g., audible back‑up alarm, first aid kit, fluid cleanup kit, fire extinguisher, seat‑belt cutter). (Regulatory implementation will clarify specific equipment or safety requirements.)

Who is affected

  • County boards of education and local school systems (may choose to own, operate, or contract alternative vehicles)
  • Public school students and parents (transportation options and potentially service availability)
  • Contracted transportation providers, taxi companies, commercial motor coach firms, and transportation network companies
  • School transportation offices (recordkeeping and oversight responsibilities)
  • ASE‑certified technicians (inspection work)

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Increased flexibility in meeting student transport needs — may improve service in rural areas, for small programs, or when traditional school vehicles are not available.
  • Cost implications: could lower or raise transportation costs depending on local contracts and utilization of commercial/TNC services; bill does not appropriate funds.
  • Safety oversight: inspection and ASE‑certification requirements aim to mitigate safety risks from using non‑traditional vehicles; final regulatory details (required equipment, driver qualifications, insurance) will determine the level of safety protection.
  • Implementation depends on State Board regulations (content and timing) and local board decisions to adopt/use alternative vehicles.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Jan 31, 2025; assigned to Senate Rules (first reading).
  • The bill sets a statutory effective date of July 1, 2025; however, practical implementation requires the State Board to adopt accompanying regulations defining operational, safety, and administrative standards.

If you want, I can:
- Draft a short checklist of issues the State Board should address in its regulations (driver vetting, insurance limits, student tracking, training);
- Summarize likely fiscal or legal questions counties may raise when deciding whether to contract with TNCs or taxis.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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