§302A-407  School bus contracts.  (a) 
Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, school bus contracts between the
State and a private contractor may be extended for two years by mutual
agreement; provided that the parties may agree to extend the contract for an
additional two years thereafter.  The compensation due to the contractor by the
State for each extended year may be increased by an amount not to exceed five
per cent of the previous year's compensation.  In addition, the compensation
due to the contractor by the State for any original or extended contract year
may be increased by a reasonable amount for unanticipated inflationary
increases in the cost of fuel.  If the original contract between the State and
a private contractor already includes an option to extend the contract period,
this subsection shall apply after the contract option is exercised.



(b)  In the renegotiation for the extension of
any contract, the contractor shall be notified at least three months in advance
to prepare data and facts relating to fuel cost for the justification of an
increase in the amount for the new contract period.



(c)  If a school is temporarily closed due to
an unexpected disruption necessitating the closing of the school, the
contractor and the State may enter into renegotiation for payments of fixed
costs.



(d)  The contract between the State and the
contractor shall include an age limit for the school bus vehicles that may be
used.  The serviceability of a vehicle shall be determined by chapter 286.



(e)  The contract between the State and the
contractor shall include a provision requiring the contractor to equip the
contractor's vehicles with the signs and visual signals described in section
291C-95(d) and (g).  The contract shall also include other provisions as may be
deemed necessary by the State for the safety of school bus passengers and shall
include provisions requiring periodic refurbishment of school buses over ten
years old.



(f)  All moneys received from students and
parents or guardians of students by public schools for state-provided school
busing services, as authorized by section 302A-406, shall be deposited into the
school bus fare revolving fund.  Except as otherwise provided by the
legislature, expenditures for the operation of state-contracted school bus
services, as authorized by section 302A-406, shall be made from this fund. [L
1996, c 89, pt of §2; am L 2002, c 108, §3]



 



Cross References



 



  Pupil transportation safety, see §286-181.