HB 1991 -- Transportation of Pupils to All Schools

Co-Sponsors:  Naeger, Cunningham, Phillips, Hunter

This bill requires that any school district providing
transportation for its students to provide transportation for
every elementary and secondary level student living and attending
a school within the district, regardless of whether the student
attends a public school.  Districts are currently allowed up to
75% reimbursement of the costs of transporting pupils to public
schools; the bill adds reimbursement for up to 100% of the
allowable additional costs of transporting pupils to private or
parochial schools.  Public schools must currently provide
transportation to all pupils who live more than 3.5 miles from
the public school; the bill adds private and parochial schools.
The law contains ballot language for a tax levy when it is
necessary to pay the extra cost of transporting students who live
less than a mile from a public school; the language is revised by
the bill to include pupils who live less than a mile from their
private or parochial schools.  The district may charge a fee for
transporting students who attend nonpublic schools.  Parents who
pay a fee for the transportation of their nonpublic school
children are eligible, beginning with the 2003 tax year, for a
tax credit equal to the amount of fees paid.  Parents who provide
transportation for students attending school in another district
may apply for a tax credit to reimburse those costs when no
public or contracted transportation exists.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:03 am