[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9733 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9733
To establish the School Bus Driver Shortage Task Force to address the
nationwide school bus driver shortage, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 20, 2024
Mr. McGarvey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the School Bus Driver Shortage Task Force to address the
nationwide school bus driver shortage, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``School Bus Driver Shortage Relief
Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE TASK
FORCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with
the Secretary of Transportation, shall establish within the Department
of Education a task force, to be known as the ``School Bus Driver
Shortage Task Force'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Task Force''),
to provide information and recommendations relating to increasing
access to free, reliable, and high-quality transportation for students
enrolled in public schools.
(b) Duties.--The Task Force--
(1) not later than 180 days after the establishment of the
Task Force, shall publish online, and distribute to State
educational agencies and local educational agencies, an interim
and accessible compilation of resources, guidance, and
evidence-based information for State educational agencies and
local educational agencies containing best practices on how--
(A) to increase access to free, reliable, and high-
quality transportation for students enrolled in public
schools; and
(B) to address disparities or shortages in public
school driver supply;
(2) not later than 60 days after the establishment of the
Task Force, and at least once each calendar quarter thereafter
until the Task Force is dissolved, shall recommend to the
Secretary ideas for guidance and regulations related to--
(A) increasing access to free, reliable, and high-
quality transportation for students enrolled in public
schools; and
(B) addressing disparities or shortages in public
school driver supply; and
(3) shall submit the reports required under subsection (e).
(c) Membership.--
(1) Number and appointment.--The Secretary shall appoint
not fewer than 10, and not more than 15, individuals to the
Task Force, including the following:
(A) At least 1 representative from the Department
of Labor.
(B) At least 3 representatives from the Department
of Transportation.
(C) At least 2 representatives from labor unions
which represent public school bus drivers.
(D) At least 1 representative from labor unions
which represent public school faculty and staff.
(E) At least 1 representative from organizations
representing parents of students enrolled in a public
school.
(F) At least 1 representative from civil rights
organizations.
(2) Terms.--
(A) In general.--Each member of the Task Force
shall be appointed for a term of 2 years or until the
dissolution of the Task Force. The Secretary may
reappoint members to the Task Force for such additional
2-year terms as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(B) Vacancies.--The Secretary shall fill a vacancy
in the Task Force in the same manner as the original
appointment not later than 30 days after the date on
which such vacancy occurs.
(3) Basic pay.--
(A) Rates of pay.--To the extent or in the amounts
provided in advance in appropriation Acts, members of
the Task Force shall each be entitled to receive the
daily equivalent of the minimum annual rate of basic
pay for grade GS-12 of the General Schedule for each
day (including travel time) during which such members
are engaged in the actual performance of duties vested
in the Task Force.
(B) Prohibition of compensation of federal
employees.--Members of the Task Force who are full-time
officers or employees of the United States may not
receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by
reason of their service on the Task Force.
(4) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(5) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Task Force
shall constitute a quorum.
(6) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Task Force shall
be elected by the members of the Task Force. The term of office
of the Chairperson shall be 2 years. If the position of
Chairperson becomes vacant, the members of the Task Force shall
select a new Chairperson not later than 30 days after the date
on which the position became vacant.
(7) Meetings.--The Task force shall meet not less
frequently than twice a quarter.
(8) Subcommittees.--The Task Force may form subcommittees,
which shall meet as often as required.
(d) Experts and Consultants; Staff of Federal Agencies.--
(1) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the Task
Force, the Chairperson may procure temporary and intermittent
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon request of the
Chairperson, the head of any Federal department or agency may
detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that
department or agency to the Task Force to assist it in carrying
out its duties under this Act.
(e) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the first meeting of the Task Force, and not less frequently
than once every 2 years thereafter or until the dissolution of
the Task Force, the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary,
to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor
and Pensions of the Senate, a report that includes the
information in paragraph (2).
(2) Report requirements.--The reports submitted under
paragraph (1) shall include each of the following:
(A) The condition of public school transportation
in the United States, including any disparities in the
supply of public school bus drivers on the basis of--
(i) geographic location (or urban or rural
status) of a public school or local educational
agency; and
(ii) demographic characteristics of
enrolled students or their families,
including--
(I) race and ethnicity;
(II) foreign-born and English as a
second language status;
(III) income and wealth;
(IV) age; and
(V) disability status.
(B) A root-cause analysis of the trends in the
supply of public school bus drivers over the 20-year
period preceding the date of enactment of this Act.
(C) A comprehensive examination of compensation for
public school bus drivers including--
(i) salary or hourly earnings;
(ii) offered hours of work per week;
(iii) summer employment, or access to
unemployment insurance;
(iv) retirement savings; and
(v) health care insurance.
(D) Consideration of working conditions for public
school bus drivers including--
(i) student discipline and behavior;
(ii) personal safety; and
(iii) school bus temperatures and
ventilation.
(E) Consideration of the impact of privatization on
the public school transportation system.
(F) Recommendations to address and alleviate any
disparities or shortages in the supply of public school
bus drivers identified under subparagraphs (A) through
(E), including areas for executive action and areas for
legislative action at the Federal and State level, and
guidance for State educational agencies and local
educational agencies.
SEC. 3. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Comptroller General of the United States, shall submit to Congress
and make publicly available, a report that identifies recommended
changes at the Federal executive and legislative levels to address any
disparities or shortages in the supply of public school bus drivers.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``local
educational agency'', ``parent'', ``secondary school'',
``Secretary'', and ``State educational agency'' have the
meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) Public school.--The term ``public school'' means--
(A) a public elementary school; and
(B) a public secondary school.
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