SENATE BILL 682

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald P. Ortiz y Pino

AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION; ALLOWING QUALIFYING PARENTS WHO RECEIVE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES TO RIDE SCHOOL BUSES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SCHOOL BUSES--PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TRANSPORTATION.--

          A. A parent who is receiving temporary assistance for needy families and who is qualified by the human services department may ride on a school bus that is transporting the parent's child.

          B. To qualify, a parent must:

                (1) need transportation to work or to another point of transportation for work purposes and have no other means of transportation;

                (2) have a child who is enrolled in public school and who rides the school bus;

                (3) sign a waiver of liability against the school district and school bus contractor; and

                (4) meet other qualifications as determined by rule of the department.

          C. A qualifying parent may only ride on a school bus:

                (1) to which the parent's child is assigned; and

                (2) when space is available on the bus.

          D. A school bus driver shall not change the established school bus route, but the driver shall stop to allow the parent to disembark at a point along the school bus route when it is safe to do so.

          E. The transportation of parents provided for in this section is not general public transportation as provided for in the Emergency Transportation Act."

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