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Minutes for HB2485 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Requiring transportation of certain students when no safe pedestrian route is available.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 14, 2018
The Chair opened the hearing on HB2485.
Jason Long summarized the bill. It requires that safe transportation be offered to students who live in areas that do not have a safe pedestrian route if the transportation costs would not increase by picking up the child on the route. (Attachment 1)
Questions were asked about sidewalks, crossing guards, and what school districts would be included.
Representative Tarwater testified as a proponent and explained the history of his constituents' situation with decisions about buses. The common sense answer is to pick up students who are on the route, who have no safe access, and need safe transportation. This bill is budget neutral and a practical solution to ensure the students in these situations a safe ride to school. (Attachment 2)
Mary Ann Woirhaye testified as a proponent and shared the history of her family with redistricting and changes in transportation. When the school location changed, they were asked to pay approx. $600 to send their students on the bus. (Attachment 3)
Questions were asked about situations when there is not room on the bus, strategies about how to deal with the situation, the cost basis of charges to parents, whether this is the right committee to address this or if it should be looked at in K-12 budget during the transportation hearing, the inconsistency of districts re: students who live under 2.5 miles, and questions about the 25 mile an hour speed limit.
Written testimony in support of the bill was submitted by:
Michelle Liem, Parent (Attachment 4)
Krista Robinson, Coffee Creek Resident (Attachment 5)
John Hudson, CPA (Attachment 6)
Kelly Edward, Parent (Attachment 7)
Rob Gilligan spoke for Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) as an opponent. KASB believes in getting all children to school safely but this proposed legislation creates a fuzzy line. Who would be responsible for auditing the additional cost calculations? Would this create conflicts within school communities? They believe more time is needed to understand the implications of this bill. (Attachment 8)
Written testimony in opposition to the bill was submitted by:
John Hutchinson, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Olathe USD 233 (Attachment 9)
The Chairperson closed the hearing on HB2485.
