As Introduced

127th General Assembly Regular Session 2007-2008

H. B. No. 597

Representative Chandler 

Cosponsors: Representatives Brady, Yuko, Harwood, Brown 

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A BILL

To amend section 3327.01 of the Revised Code to

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require school districts to transport pupils in

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grades kindergarten through eight who live within

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two miles of school but do not have access to a

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sidewalk or path constructed for pedestrian use en

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route to school.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That section 3327.01 of the Revised Code be	7
amended to read as follows:	8

Sec. 3327.01.  Notwithstanding division (D) of section	9
3311.19 and division (D) of section 3311.52 of the Revised Code,	10
this section and sections 3327.011, 3327.012, and 3327.02 of the	11
Revised Code do not apply to any joint vocational or cooperative	12
education school district.	13

In all city, local, and exempted village school districts	14
where resident school pupils in grades kindergarten through eight	15
live more than two miles from, or live within two miles from but	16
do not have access to a sidewalk or a path constructed for	17
pedestrian use en route to, the school for which the state board	18
of education prescribes minimum standards pursuant to division	19
(D) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code and to which they are	20
assigned by the board of education of the district of residence	21
or to and from the nonpublic or community school which they	22
attend the board of education shall provide transportation for	23
such pupils to and from such school except as provided in section	24
3327.02 of the Revised Code.	25

In all city, local, and exempted village school districts	26
where pupil transportation is required under a career-technical	27
plan approved by the state board of education under section	28
3313.90 of the Revised Code, for any student attending a	29
career-technical program operated by another school district,	30
including a joint vocational school district, as prescribed under	31
that section, the board of education of the student's district of	32
residence shall provide transportation from the public high school	33
operated by that district to which the student is assigned to the	34
career-technical program.	35

In all city, local, and exempted village school districts the	36
board may provide transportation for resident school pupils in	37
grades nine through twelve to and from the high school to which	38
they are assigned by the board of education of the district of	39
residence or to and from the nonpublic or community high school	40
which they attend for which the state board of education	41
prescribes minimum standards pursuant to division (D) of section	42
3301.07 of the Revised Code.	43

A board of education shall not be required to transport	44
elementary or high school pupils to and from a nonpublic or	45
community school where such transportation would require more than	46
thirty minutes of direct travel time as measured by school bus	47
from the public school building to which the pupils would be	48
assigned if attending the public school designated by the district	49
of residence.	50

Where it is impractical to transport a pupil by school	51
conveyance, a board of education may offer payment, in lieu of	52
providing such transportation in accordance with section 3327.02	53
of the Revised Code.	54

In all city, local, and exempted village school districts the	55
board shall provide transportation for all children who are so	56
disabled that they are unable to walk to and from the school for	57
which the state board of education prescribes minimum standards	58
pursuant to division (D) of section 3301.07 of the Revised Code	59
and which they attend. In case of dispute whether the child is	60
able to walk to and from the school, the health commissioner shall	61
be the judge of such ability. In all city, exempted village, and	62
local school districts the board shall provide transportation to	63
and from school or special education classes for educable mentally	64
retarded children in accordance with standards adopted by the	65
state board of education.	66

When transportation of pupils is provided the conveyance	67
shall be run on a time schedule that shall be adopted and put in	68
force by the board not later than ten days after the beginning of	69
the school term.	70

The cost of any transportation service authorized by this	71
section shall be paid first out of federal funds, if any,	72
available for the purpose of pupil transportation, and secondly	73
out of state appropriations, in accordance with regulations	74
adopted by the state board of education.	75

No transportation of any pupils shall be provided by any	76
board of education to or from any school which in the selection of	77
pupils, faculty members, or employees, practices discrimination	78
against any person on the grounds of race, color, religion, or	79
national origin.	80

Section 2. That existing section 3327.01 of the Revised Code	81
is hereby repealed.	82