Kentucky House lawmakers advance 2 bills tackling bad bus behavior, transportation delays

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Fights on buses, long rides home and driver shortages continue to plague the Jefferson County Public Schools transportation system, and now lawmakers are stepping in to try to solve the problem.

Rep. Kevin D. Bratcher is one of seven state lawmakers behind House Bill 446, which is designed to hold students — and parents — responsible for bad behavior on Kentucky's public school buses.

One of the questions Bratcher wants answered is "what happens when you get so out of line that you stop a school bus from operating?"

Parents of JCPS students have had good cause to worry about their kids' safety on buses several times this school year. That's why lawmakers like Rep. Emily Callaway want to set a statewide standard for acceptable student behavior.

Rep. Emily Callaway promises "aggressive behavior will have severe consequences, and will not be tolerated."

Those consequences are spelled out in House Bill 446, which sets forth what is and is not allowed to happen on buses carrying students to and from school.

It would be up to each district to personalize that policy before the next school year.

Under the proposed bill, students of all ages — as well as their parents and/or guardians — would be required to sign a document acknowledging the new guidelines within seven school days of the start of the Fall semester.

"The policy will act as a contract between the school and guardians," Callaway said. "Signatures will be required."

That document will list the consequences for parents who threaten or harm a bus driver, including criminal charges. The idea is to put a stop to unacceptable behavior on school buses, which could improve bus driver retention rates.

At least one lawmaker wanted to make sure the bill did not negatively impact special education students who have behavioral issues on a school bus.

"This bill will not override any federal special education laws," Rep. Tina Bojanowski said.

The House is also considering a bill designed to lessen the time it takes to get students to and from schools by using other vehicles in addition to buses to transport students.

Instead, House Bill 447 would allow school employees to drive students home in passenger vans.

"Qualified drivers who don't have a CDL will be able to help with the shortage of route drivers," Callaway explained.

The vans would accommodate nine people, and follow the route safety standards in place for school buses. They could also be used to take students to after school activities.

"Kids and drivers are seeing really late nights on the bus," Callaway said. "That's quite frankly unacceptable."

Both bills passed in the House with overwhelming support.

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