BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




          Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary

                                AB537  (Aroner)

Hearing Date:9/1/99             Amended:8/17/99        
Consultant: Karen French        Policy Vote:Education  9-4
____________________________________________________________ 

BILL SUMMARY: 

AB 537 provides an alternative home-to-school  
transportation funding allowance for a district which meets  
specified criteria.
 
                         Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
  
Major Provisions        1999-2000             2000-01               2001-02   Fund  

WCCUSD  home-to
 School funding                $500                       $500                  
  $500                          General*

*Costs count toward meeting the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee.

STAFF COMMENTS:  

SUSPENSE FILE.

The  West Contra Costa Unified School District (formerly  
known as Richmond Unified) appears to be the only district  
that would qualify to receive this alternative allowance.    
The allowance is based upon the number of students in the  
district, rather than the number of pupils who are  
transported.

Current law provides for partial reimbursement of the  
actual costs of school districts that provide  
home-to-school transportation.  Due to the caps placed on  
individual district reimbursement, and limited funding,  
most districts to dnot receive full reimbursement for their  
costs.  The law also allows school districts that meet  
specified criteria to receive an annual supplemental  
allowance based on higher costs due to terrain and weather.

SB 83 (Rainery), currently on the Assembly Appropriations  
Committee's Suspense File, provides home-to-school  










transportation for districts currently operating programs,  
but not receiving funds.