§302A-407  School bus contracts.  (a) Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, school bus contracts between theState and a private contractor may be extended for two years by mutualagreement; provided that the parties may agree to extend the contract for anadditional two years thereafter.  The compensation due to the contractor by theState for each extended year may be increased by an amount not to exceed fiveper cent of the previous year's compensation.  In addition, the compensationdue to the contractor by the State for any original or extended contract yearmay be increased by a reasonable amount for unanticipated inflationaryincreases in the cost of fuel.  If the original contract between the State anda 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 ofany contract, the contractor shall be notified at least three months in advanceto prepare data and facts relating to fuel cost for the justification of anincrease in the amount for the new contract period.

(c)  If a school is temporarily closed due toan unexpected disruption necessitating the closing of the school, thecontractor and the State may enter into renegotiation for payments of fixedcosts.

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

(e)  The contract between the State and thecontractor shall include a provision requiring the contractor to equip thecontractor's vehicles with the signs and visual signals described in section291C-95(d) and (g).  The contract shall also include other provisions as may bedeemed necessary by the State for the safety of school bus passengers and shallinclude provisions requiring periodic refurbishment of school buses over tenyears old.

(f)  All moneys received from students andparents or guardians of students by public schools for state-provided schoolbusing services, as authorized by section 302A-406, shall be deposited into theschool bus fare revolving fund.  Except as otherwise provided by thelegislature, expenditures for the operation of state-contracted school busservices, as authorized by section 302A-406, shall be made from this fund. [L1996, c 89, pt of §2; am L 2002, c 108, §3]

 

Cross References

 

  Pupil transportation safety, see §286-181.