S257 - Appropriations Act of 2017. (SL 2017-57)

Overview: Sec. 8.10 of S.L. 2017-57 directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study the compensation of school bus drivers and the challenges of recruiting and retaining them. DPI must submit a report by April 1, 2018 to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division that contains the following information:

• A detailed explanation of how school bus drivers are compensated and employed in the public schools, including:
• Average driving experience of school bus drivers.
• Rates of retention of school bus drivers in local school administrative units (LEAs).
• Average term of service for school bus drivers.
• Average hours worked by school bus drivers per week.
• Career paths for school bus drivers within a LEA.
• Percentage of school bus drivers who work in the LEA in another capacity.
• The challenges of recruiting and retaining school bus drivers faced by LEAs.
• Recommendations, including input from local school administrators, on improving the process of recruiting and retaining school bus drivers.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This section became effective July 1, 2017.