BILL NUMBER: ACR 114 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 22, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 25, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 28, 2008 INTRODUCED BY Assembly MemberParraFuller ( Coauthors: Assembly Members Parra and Jeffries ) MARCH 5, 2008 Relative to home-to-school transportation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 114, as amended,ParraFuller . Home-to-school transportation. This measure would request the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a committee to investigate cost savings and best practices for school districts operating home-to-school transportation programs, not including special education transportation. The measure also would request the Superintendent to invite specified representatives to become members of the committee and would request that the relevant findings or recommendations based on the committee's investigation be posted on the State Department of Education's Internet Web site. Fiscal committee: yes. WHEREAS, Home-to-school transportation is a vital part of ensuring the attendance of pupils at public schools; and WHEREAS, Thestate's reimbursement payments forpayments by the state to reimburse approved home-to-school transportation costs have been declining as a percentage of cost; and WHEREAS, School districtsand, particularly small rural school districts , must subsidize unreimbursed transportation costs from their district general fund; and WHEREAS, The effect of subsidizing unreimbursed transportation costs from the district general fund impacts other educational programs; and WHEREAS, In order to meet the goal of pupils reaching high academic standards, California has adopted some of the highest academic standards in the nation; and WHEREAS, In 2008, approximately $11 million that had been allocated to fund home-to-school transportation reverted to the state, so school districts must use their district general fund moneys to meet the unfunded cost of school transportation; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Superintendent of Public Instruction is requested to convene a committee to investigate cost savings and best practices for school districts operating home-to-school transportation programs, not including special education transportation; and be it further Resolved, That the Superintendent of Public Instruction is requested to invite representatives from the Legislative Analyst's Office, the fiscal management and assistance team of school districts offering home-to-school transportation, and county offices of education, to become members of the committee; and be it further Resolved, That any relevant findings or recommendations that occur as a result of the committee's investigation are requested to be posted on the State Department of Education's Internet Web site; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.