In pupils and attendance, further providing for computation of distances; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for pupil transportation data.
Summary
HB1326 amends Pennsylvania’s Public School Code to update how pupil transportation is handled and reported. It clarifies the distance calculation used to determine transportation eligibility by allowing technology-based distance measurements and prohibiting the Department of Education from requiring manual distance recording. The bill also preserves and restates the requirement that when a school district provides transportation for public school pupils, it must provide identical transportation for eligible nonpublic school pupils, including transportation for field trips and travel to schools within specified distance limits.
The bill’s major new feature is a detailed pupil transportation data-reporting requirement beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. School entities that receive transportation reimbursement must report counts and expenditures for students transported to public, charter, nonpublic, and certain out-of-state schools, as well as students experiencing homelessness and students requiring extraordinary transportation due to severe health needs. The Department of Education must prescribe the reporting format, provide guidance on allocating transportation costs, and publicly post the collected data each year. The bill also defines “extraordinary transportation expenses” and abrogates inconsistent regulations.
Impact
HB1326 would amend sections 1361 and 1366 of the Public School Code and add new section 2541.1, creating a statewide transportation data collection and public reporting framework. It affects school districts and other school entities that are entitled to transportation reimbursement, requiring them to track student counts and transportation expenditures by category, including charter school, nonpublic school, homeless student, and out-of-state transportation. It also limits the Department of Education’s ability to require manual distance reporting and authorizes technology-based measurement methods for distance calculations.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support in the House, passing the Education Committee unanimously on amendment and reporting votes and then passing the House floor by a very large margin, 201-2. The unanimous committee action and strong final passage suggest general agreement with the bill’s transparency and administrative modernization goals. The available record does not show organized opposition in committee or on the floor.
Contention
The main substantive issues appear to be administrative burden and cost allocation rather than the concept of transportation reporting itself. The bill repeatedly requires the Department of Education to give guidance so school entities can either track actual transportation costs or allocate a portion of total costs, reflecting concern that the reporting system not be redundant or overly burdensome. The inclusion of detailed reporting for charter school, nonpublic school, homeless student, and out-of-state transportation may also be relevant to stakeholders focused on reimbursement, accountability, and how transportation obligations are distributed among school entities.
In pupils and attendance, further providing for when provided relating to transportation of pupils and for kinds of transportation and liability insurance; and, in charter schools, further providing for transportation.
In pupils and attendance, further providing for when provided and for kinds of transportation and liability insurance; and, in charter schools, further providing for transportation.
In school health services, further providing for health services; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for State reimbursement for health services.
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-340.2 and 37.2-810, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to transportation of person in the temporary detention process.
Health: licensing; behavioral health transportation licensing requirements; provide for. Amends 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1001 - 330.2106) by adding ch. 9B. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0927'26
Requires transportation network companies to share information concerning sexual misconduct investigation of driver; authorizes transportation network company to ban drivers from accessing digital network during and following investigation.