2015 State and National Issues2015 State and National Issues

Presented to FAPT Mid-year Presented to FAPT Mid-year Transportation Directors MeetingTransportation Directors Meeting

February 12, 2015February 12, 2015Ronnie H. McCallister, Director Ronnie H. McCallister, Director

School TransportationSchool TransportationFlorida Department of EducationFlorida Department of Education

2015 Legislation--2015 Legislation--ProposedProposed• Student Trans. Student Trans. Appropriations (as of 2/12/15)Appropriations (as of 2/12/15)--

• Governor’s budget rec. for 2015-16 is Governor’s budget rec. for 2015-16 is $443M$443M, , still within FEFPstill within FEFP

• Governor’s budget rec. for 2014-15 is $436M, Governor’s budget rec. for 2014-15 is $436M, still within FEFPstill within FEFP

2015 Legislation--2015 Legislation--ProposedProposed• SB 154, HB 41-SB 154, HB 41- Would require that school boards Would require that school boards

and other governmental entities identify and and other governmental entities identify and correctcorrect conditions that are hazardous along student walking conditions that are hazardous along student walking routes to schoolroutes to school

• SB 574-SB 574- Government Procurement; Defining the term “reverse Government Procurement; Defining the term “reverse auction”; requiring the Department of Management Services to auction”; requiring the Department of Management Services to maintain a program for reverse auctions; authorizing the maintain a program for reverse auctions; authorizing the Department of Education to use reverse auctions and other online Department of Education to use reverse auctions and other online procurement programs in assisting district school boards with procurement programs in assisting district school boards with transportation services contracts; authorizing the Board of transportation services contracts; authorizing the Board of Governors to adopt regulations establishing procedures governing Governors to adopt regulations establishing procedures governing a state university’s participation in reverse auctions and other a state university’s participation in reverse auctions and other online procurement programs, etc.online procurement programs, etc.

2015 Legislation--2015 Legislation--ProposedProposed

• SB 346, HB 487- SB 346, HB 487- Revises wording s. 316.172 Revises wording s. 316.172 to state that a person operating a vehicle to state that a person operating a vehicle passing a stopped school bus that displays a passing a stopped school bus that displays a stop- arm signal on the right side commits stop- arm signal on the right side commits reckless drivingreckless driving punishable as provided in s. punishable as provided in s. 316.192. Removes references to require 316.192. Removes references to require mandatory hearing. Adds an additional $65 mandatory hearing. Adds an additional $65 mandatory fine for EMSTF; minimum fine is mandatory fine for EMSTF; minimum fine is uniform regardless of which side you pass.uniform regardless of which side you pass.

FDOE Lesgislative PackageFDOE Lesgislative Package

• s. 1011.68, F.S., s. 1011.68, F.S., Codifies student eligibility requirements for weighted student transportation funding.

• Clarifies that passenger cars and boats may be used to transport students who are isolated, homeless or in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

• Clarifies that only students who generate FTE through the FEFP during the summer are eligible for student transportation funding.

Chapter 6A-1, and 6A-3, FAC, Chapter 6A-1, and 6A-3, FAC, Update:Update:

• Rule 6A-1.0451, FAC, changes were adopted Rule 6A-1.0451, FAC, changes were adopted (May 2014) to clarify which students (May 2014) to clarify which students transported in PV were eligible for fundingtransported in PV were eligible for funding

• Rules 6A-3.0141, 6A-3.0151, and 6A-Rules 6A-3.0141, 6A-3.0151, and 6A-3.0171, FAC are scheduled for review at the 3.0171, FAC are scheduled for review at the April 2015, State Board MeetingApril 2015, State Board Meeting

School Bus Speed Limit,School Bus Speed Limit,Rule 6A-3.0171, FAC Rule 6A-3.0171, FAC

Hi Ronnie,

Per our discussion, I took a further look at the issue of whether our Rule 6A-3.0171, F.A.C., can limit the speed a school bus may go to 55 mph in light of the legislative changes to section 316.183.  Based on the legislative history, it is clear that by deleting the previously existing limit of 55 mph, and leaving only the restriction that school buses must obey the posted speed, the legislature intended that the restriction to 55 mph would no longer apply and school buses can go up to the posted speed limit.  Therefore, I think the limitation to 55 mph in our existing rule needs to be stricken. 

Mari M. "Miki" Presley, Assistant General Counsel

Legislation, Statutes, and RulesLegislation, Statutes, and Rules

• www.leg.state.fl.us (Florida legislative bills (Florida legislative bills and statutes)and statutes)

• www.flrules.org (Florida rules and statutes, (Florida rules and statutes, especially Chapter 6A-3, FAC, and Sections especially Chapter 6A-3, FAC, and Sections 1006.21 to 1006.27, and 1012.45, F.S.)1006.21 to 1006.27, and 1012.45, F.S.)

• www.regulations.gov (federal rulemaking (federal rulemaking—dockets and public comments)—dockets and public comments)

Fatalities in 2013-14:Fatalities in 2013-14:

• Seminole, 8/30/13- Two passengers killed in Seminole, 8/30/13- Two passengers killed in PV crash with school busPV crash with school bus

• Collier, 10/31/13- PV driver killed in crash Collier, 10/31/13- PV driver killed in crash with school buswith school bus

• Hillsborough, 11/8/13- Motorcyclist, killed in Hillsborough, 11/8/13- Motorcyclist, killed in crash with school buscrash with school bus

• Escambia, 4/14/14- Motorcyclist, killed in Escambia, 4/14/14- Motorcyclist, killed in crash with school buscrash with school bus

Fatalities in 2013-14:Fatalities in 2013-14:

• St. Lucie, 4/7/14- Pedestrian student killed St. Lucie, 4/7/14- Pedestrian student killed by car (not school bus related)by car (not school bus related)

• Pasco, 4/9/14- PV driver killed in crash with Pasco, 4/9/14- PV driver killed in crash with school busschool bus

• Duval, 4/11/14- Driver and passenger were Duval, 4/11/14- Driver and passenger were killed in multi-vehicle crash with school buskilled in multi-vehicle crash with school bus

• FSUS, 4/18/14- Bus driver killed PV crash FSUS, 4/18/14- Bus driver killed PV crash with school buswith school bus

Fatalities in 2013-14:Fatalities in 2013-14:

• Escambia, 5/2/14- PV driver killed in crash Escambia, 5/2/14- PV driver killed in crash with school buswith school bus

Fatalities in 2014-15 (as of 2/9/15):Fatalities in 2014-15 (as of 2/9/15):

• Lee, 8/28/14- PV driver killed in crash with Lee, 8/28/14- PV driver killed in crash with school busschool bus

• Lee, 9/25/14- PV driver killed in crash with Lee, 9/25/14- PV driver killed in crash with school busschool bus

• Charlotte, 10/2/14- Pedestrian student killed Charlotte, 10/2/14- Pedestrian student killed by PV (not school bus related)by PV (not school bus related)

• Flagler, 1/9/15- PV driver killed in crash with Flagler, 1/9/15- PV driver killed in crash with school busschool bus

Crash Reporting Reminders:Crash Reporting Reminders:

• Reporting threshold is $1,000, started 07-08Reporting threshold is $1,000, started 07-08

• DOE is continuing to require that districts DOE is continuing to require that districts reconcile district-reported numbers (DOE reconcile district-reported numbers (DOE system) with police reports (DHSMV system) with police reports (DHSMV system)system)

• DOE receives daily clippings from DOE receives daily clippings from DHSMV of ALL fatal crashes in Florida??DHSMV of ALL fatal crashes in Florida??

FATAL Crash Reporting FATAL Crash Reporting

• Districts Districts should provideshould provide immediate notice of any immediate notice of any fatal crash to FDOE as soon as practicalfatal crash to FDOE as soon as practical

• Report by phone call and follow up with e-Report by phone call and follow up with e-mail crash report formmail crash report form

• Helps district and FDOE answer immediate Helps district and FDOE answer immediate questions from administrators, mediaquestions from administrators, media

• Info is Info is alwaysalways treated as preliminary treated as preliminary • Not meant as substitute for regular FDOE and Not meant as substitute for regular FDOE and

police crash reportingpolice crash reporting

Parent-Student Safety Parent-Student Safety InstructionsInstructions

• Safety instructions must be provided Safety instructions must be provided annually, in writing, as required by Rule annually, in writing, as required by Rule 6A-3.01216A-3.0121

• DOE’s “Are We There Yet?” brochure can DOE’s “Are We There Yet?” brochure can be printed for parents and othersbe printed for parents and others

• Available at Available at http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/758http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7585/urlt/0085474-brochure.pdf link5/urlt/0085474-brochure.pdf link

Charter SchoolsCharter Schools

• Now 610 in Florida; 299K students, and Now 610 in Florida; 299K students, and continuing to grow (as of 2013-14 school year)continuing to grow (as of 2013-14 school year)

• Districts must ensure charter schools are following Districts must ensure charter schools are following laws and rules relating to health and safetylaws and rules relating to health and safety

• Currently revising Charter Schools Transportation Currently revising Charter Schools Transportation Resource GuideResource Guide

• More to come tomorrow in presentation by Adam More to come tomorrow in presentation by Adam Emerson, FDOE Director, Charter SchoolsEmerson, FDOE Director, Charter Schools

National Congress on School National Congress on School Transportation, May 17-20, 2015Transportation, May 17-20, 2015

• Purpose is to update the National School Purpose is to update the National School Transportation Specifications and ProceduresTransportation Specifications and Procedures

• Florida’s delegation: Jim Beekman, Richard Florida’s delegation: Jim Beekman, Richard Duckworth, Jay McInnis, Pat Snell, David Duckworth, Jay McInnis, Pat Snell, David Solomon, ?????, and Ronnie McCallisterSolomon, ?????, and Ronnie McCallister

• Additional info at www.NCSTOnline.org Additional info at www.NCSTOnline.org

www.FloridaSchoolBusSafety.gov

SESPTC ScholarshipsSESPTC Scholarships

• SESPTC- Deadline is May 31; awarding one $2,500 SESPTC- Deadline is May 31; awarding one $2,500 scholarship for 2015 college expenses of one scholarship for 2015 college expenses of one graduating high school senior; parent or legal graduating high school senior; parent or legal guardian must have been an active Florida public guardian must have been an active Florida public school transportation employee meeting income school transportation employee meeting income criteria (max $75K AGI) for each of the past three criteria (max $75K AGI) for each of the past three tax yearstax years

• For more info, contact ronnie.mccallister@fldoe.org For more info, contact ronnie.mccallister@fldoe.org

FAPT Website and ListServeFAPT Website and ListServe

• www.FAPTFlorida.org www.FAPTFlorida.org • Calendar of EventsCalendar of Events• faptgroup@faptflorida.orgfaptgroup@faptflorida.org- Use this address - Use this address

if you want to send email to all FAPT if you want to send email to all FAPT General MembersGeneral Members

• faptsuppliers@faptflorida.orgfaptsuppliers@faptflorida.org- for FAPT - for FAPT Supplier MembersSupplier Members

Resources and Links:Resources and Links:

• www.flrules.org/default.aspwww.flrules.org/default.asp

• www.leg.state.fl.uswww.leg.state.fl.us

• www.fldoe.org/transportationwww.fldoe.org/transportation

• www.FAPTFlorida.orgwww.FAPTFlorida.org

• www.NASDPTS.orgwww.NASDPTS.org

• www.AmericanSchoolBusCouncil.orgwww.AmericanSchoolBusCouncil.org

Questions and Comments?Questions and Comments?

www.fldoe.org/transportationwww.fldoe.org/transportationronnie.mcallister@fldoe.org orronnie.mcallister@fldoe.org orSchtrans@fldoe.orgSchtrans@fldoe.org