The purpose of this rule development is to remove duplicative requirements for school districts to report school bus accidents to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). The effect is to cease school bus accident reporting to FDOE that ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-3.0171Responsibilities of School Districts for Student Transportation

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule development is to remove duplicative requirements for school districts to report school bus accidents to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). The effect is to cease school bus accident reporting to FDOE that duplicates uniform traffic crash reports already required from police agencies by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The purpose is to also delete the requirement for school districts to report hazardous walking locations to the FDOE. The effect is that the FDOE will no longer maintain a database of hazardous walking locations which duplicates information available at school districts. Additionally, the requirement for school districts to maintain a list of certified medical examiners is deleted because, under 49 C.F.R. Part 391 (compliance with which is required by section 1012.45, Florida Statutes), certified medical examiners must be registered with the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners to conduct school bus operator medical examinations. The provision indicating that school bus operators may not drive in excess of fifty-five miles per hour is deleted as that provision has been superseded by section 316.183(3), Florida Statutes. The provision indicating that operators shall not carry firearms while on school board property is deleted as that provision has been superseded by sections 790.115, 790.25, and 790.251, Florida Statutes.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Medical Examination Report For Commercial Driver Fitness Determination and its associated guidelines, the procedures for reporting school bus accidents to the Florida Department of Education, the procedure for reporting hazardous walking locations to the Florida Department of Education and the maximum allowable operating speed for school buses.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1003.31, 1006.21, 1006.22, 1012.45 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 316.615, 1003.31, 1006.21(3), 1006.22, 1012.45 FS.

IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE REGISTER.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Mark Eggers, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Operations, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 814, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, [phone]. To request a rule development workshop, please contact: Cathy Schroeder, Agency Clerk, Florida Department of Education, [phone] or e-mail: [e-mail] or go to https://app1.fldoe.org/rules/default.aspx

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT: https://app1.fldoe.org/rules/default.aspx.