Current through Register Vol. 6, March 22, 2024
(1) The following rules are adopted to implement
20-10-112,
MCA, which requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to prescribe such rules
as may be necessary to have a uniform and equal provision of transportation by all
districts in the state of Montana.
(2)
The following list briefly states in chronological order the administrative steps
for school transportation. This list is not a substitute for the more detailed
requirements stated in these rules:
(a) By July 1
a district must send copies of all completed school bus contracts to the county
superintendent.
(b) By July 1 a district
must do all of the following:
(i) complete and
sign transportation contracts (three copies) for the ensuing year;
(ii) send to the county superintendent copies of
all completed individual transportation contracts; and
(iii) submit individual transportation contracts
electronically to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(c) By the fourth Monday in July a county
transportation committee (CTC) must act to approve or not approve all bus routes
established by districts. The CTC must also act on all applications for increased
individual payments due to isolation. Approval of board of trustees for increased
payments is required prior to CTC action.
(d) By October 1, the county superintendent must
electronically acknowledge receipt of all individual transportation contracts and
electronically authorize individual transportation contracts for which the CTC has
approved increased payments due to isolation.
(e) At least 30 days prior to the beginning of the
first semester the Montana Highway Patrol must inspect all school buses used to
transport students. If necessary, the buses must be reinspected before the beginning
of the semester.
(f) By the second
Monday in September the county superintendent must send the final budgets for the
ensuing year to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(g) By November 1 a district must send the county
superintendent one copy of the TR-1 for each bus route and submit a TR-1 for each
bus route electronically to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(h) By November 10 the county superintendent must
electronically approve each TR-1 submitted by the district in (2)(g).
(i) By mid-November the Superintendent of Public
Instruction must electronically notify county superintendents and district clerks of
the approved rates for individual and isolated contracts.
(j) Upon receipt of the approved rates required in
(2)(i) a district must provide a copy of the contract to each parent, guardian, or
emancipated minor with whom the district holds a contract.
(k) Sixty days after the beginning of the school
year, or 60 days after employment, the first-aid competency requirement for new bus
drivers must be completed.
(l) By
January 31 buses must have passed the inspection for the second semester.
(m) By February 15 a district must send the county
superintendent one copy of transportation claims TR-5 and TR-6 and submit the claims
electronically to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(n) By February 22 the county superintendent must
electronically authorize each district TR-5 and TR-6 claim for the first
semester.
(o) Upon receipt of electronic
claims, the Superintendent of Public Instruction verifies the claims and disburses
the approved amount of state reimbursement for first semester transportation.
Payments will be made on or before March 31.
(p) Upon receipt of electronic state payment
notice the county superintendent orders the disbursement of county reimbursement for
first semester transportation on the basis of state reimbursement.
(q) By May 24 a district must send the county
superintendent one copy of completed transportation claims TR-5 and TR-6 and submit
the claims electronically to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(r) By June 1 the county superintendent must
electronically authorize each district TR-5 and TR-6 claim for the second
semester.
(s) Upon receipt of electronic
claims the Superintendent of Public Instruction verifies the claims and disburses
the approved amount of state reimbursement for second semester transportation.
Payments will be made on or before June 30.
(t) Upon receipt of electronic state payment
notice the county superintendent orders the disbursement of county reimbursement for
second semester transportation on the basis of state reimbursement.
(u) Whenever necessary, new individual
transportation contracts received by the school district after final budget adoption
are completed by the board of trustees. The district will enter and submit the
contract electronically to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and submit the
original to the county superintendent.
(v) Whenever required, the board of trustees
issues Montana school bus driver certification to bus drivers and transmits the
required copies to the county superintendent. The district will submit new and
amended driver certifications electronically, as they are updated, to the
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(w) Whenever required, but no later than June 30,
budget amendment proceedings must be completed to provide budget authority for
additional pupil transportation obligations arising after final budget adoption and
for which the contingency item is inadequate.
20-3-106,
20-10-112,
MCA; IMP,
20-9-134,
20-9-166,
20-10-101,
20-10-124,
20-10-147,
20-10-201,
20-10-202,
20-10-203,
20-10-204,
20-10-205,
20-10-206,
20-10-207,
MCA;