BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 315|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 315
Author: Liu (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 7-1, 4/1/09
AYES: Romero, Alquist, Hancock, Liu, Maldonado, Padilla,
Wyland
NOES: Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Simitian
SUBJECT : Walking schoolbus
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill defines walking schoolbus as a group
of pupils walking to or from school with one or more
supervising adults, and authorizes a school district to
establish and maintain a walking schoolbus in any school
within the district boundaries.
ANALYSIS : The California Department of Transportation
(CalTrans), in consultation with the Department of the
California Highway Patrol, administers a "Safe Routes to
School" program for the construction of bicycle and
pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects. CalTrans
awards competitive grants to local governmental agencies
(including school districts) for this program. K-12
schools are the targeted beneficiaries of this grant. $196
million has been awarded to over 700 Safe Routes to School
CONTINUED
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projects between 2000 and 2008. $24.25 million appears to
be available for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
The federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users, is similar
to the state Safe Routes to School program. K-8 schools
are the targeted beneficiaries of this federal grant.
Approximately $46 million has been awarded to date via this
federal program.
Existing law requires school safety plans to include, among
other elements, "procedures for safe ingress and egress of
pupils, parents and school employees to and from school."
This bill authorizes a school district to establish and
maintain a walking schoolbus in any school within the
district boundaries. Specifically, this bill:
1. Authorizes the governing board of any school district to
establish and maintain a walking schoolbus in any of the
schools in the district for the purpose of ensuring the
safe passage of pupils to and from school.
2. Defines "walking schoolbus" as a group of pupils walking
to or from school with one or more supervising adults.
3. Specifies "adults" includes parents, guardians, or
teachers of a pupil who is participating in the walking
schoolbus.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/2/09)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
California should encourage more children to walk to school
to promote exercise, reduce auto traffic, and reduce
congestion during drop-off and pickup times at school
sites. However, children must be safe at all times. This
bill allows local school boards and principals to establish
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a "Walking School Bus" where parents supervise groups of
children walking to school. A walking school bus is a
group of children walking to school with one or more
adults. Parents often cite safety issues as one of the
primary reasons they are reluctant to allow their children
to walk to school. Providing adult supervision may help
reduce those worries for families who live within walking
distance to school.
The Walking School Bus: (1) encourages physical activity
by teaching children the skills to walk safely, how to
identify safe routes to school, and the benefits of
walking, (2) raises awareness of how walkable a community
is and where improvements can be made, (3) raises concern
for the environment, and (4) reduces traffic congestion,
pollution, and speeding near schools.
By specifically authorizing Walking School Bus program, the
Legislature can encourage individual school districts to
add this program to overall school pedestrian safety
efforts. The Education Code does not address pedestrian
safety programs outside immediate school boundaries.
Walking School bus can encompass pedestrian traffic all the
way from homes to school sites.
DLW:do 4/2/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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