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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9733 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9733

 To establish the School Bus Driver Shortage Task Force to address the 
     nationwide school bus driver shortage, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 20, 2024

 Mr. McGarvey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To establish the School Bus Driver Shortage Task Force to address the 
     nationwide school bus driver shortage, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``School Bus Driver Shortage Relief 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE TASK 
              FORCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Transportation, shall establish within the Department 
of Education a task force, to be known as the ``School Bus Driver 
Shortage Task Force'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Task Force''), 
to provide information and recommendations relating to increasing 
access to free, reliable, and high-quality transportation for students 
enrolled in public schools.
    (b) Duties.--The Task Force--
            (1) not later than 180 days after the establishment of the 
        Task Force, shall publish online, and distribute to State 
        educational agencies and local educational agencies, an interim 
        and accessible compilation of resources, guidance, and 
        evidence-based information for State educational agencies and 
        local educational agencies containing best practices on how--
                    (A) to increase access to free, reliable, and high-
                quality transportation for students enrolled in public 
                schools; and
                    (B) to address disparities or shortages in public 
                school driver supply;
            (2) not later than 60 days after the establishment of the 
        Task Force, and at least once each calendar quarter thereafter 
        until the Task Force is dissolved, shall recommend to the 
        Secretary ideas for guidance and regulations related to--
                    (A) increasing access to free, reliable, and high-
                quality transportation for students enrolled in public 
                schools; and
                    (B) addressing disparities or shortages in public 
                school driver supply; and
            (3) shall submit the reports required under subsection (e).
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) Number and appointment.--The Secretary shall appoint 
        not fewer than 10, and not more than 15, individuals to the 
        Task Force, including the following:
                    (A) At least 1 representative from the Department 
                of Labor.
                    (B) At least 3 representatives from the Department 
                of Transportation.
                    (C) At least 2 representatives from labor unions 
                which represent public school bus drivers.
                    (D) At least 1 representative from labor unions 
                which represent public school faculty and staff.
                    (E) At least 1 representative from organizations 
                representing parents of students enrolled in a public 
                school.
                    (F) At least 1 representative from civil rights 
                organizations.
            (2) Terms.--
                    (A) In general.--Each member of the Task Force 
                shall be appointed for a term of 2 years or until the 
                dissolution of the Task Force. The Secretary may 
                reappoint members to the Task Force for such additional 
                2-year terms as the Secretary determines appropriate.
                    (B) Vacancies.--The Secretary shall fill a vacancy 
                in the Task Force in the same manner as the original 
                appointment not later than 30 days after the date on 
                which such vacancy occurs.
            (3) Basic pay.--
                    (A) Rates of pay.--To the extent or in the amounts 
                provided in advance in appropriation Acts, members of 
                the Task Force shall each be entitled to receive the 
                daily equivalent of the minimum annual rate of basic 
                pay for grade GS-12 of the General Schedule for each 
                day (including travel time) during which such members 
                are engaged in the actual performance of duties vested 
                in the Task Force.
                    (B) Prohibition of compensation of federal 
                employees.--Members of the Task Force who are full-time 
                officers or employees of the United States may not 
                receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by 
                reason of their service on the Task Force.
            (4) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of 
        chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
            (5) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Task Force 
        shall constitute a quorum.
            (6) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Task Force shall 
        be elected by the members of the Task Force. The term of office 
        of the Chairperson shall be 2 years. If the position of 
        Chairperson becomes vacant, the members of the Task Force shall 
        select a new Chairperson not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which the position became vacant.
            (7) Meetings.--The Task force shall meet not less 
        frequently than twice a quarter.
            (8) Subcommittees.--The Task Force may form subcommittees, 
        which shall meet as often as required.
    (d) Experts and Consultants; Staff of Federal Agencies.--
            (1) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the Task 
        Force, the Chairperson may procure temporary and intermittent 
        services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon request of the 
        Chairperson, the head of any Federal department or agency may 
        detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that 
        department or agency to the Task Force to assist it in carrying 
        out its duties under this Act.
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the first meeting of the Task Force, and not less frequently 
        than once every 2 years thereafter or until the dissolution of 
        the Task Force, the Task Force shall submit to the Secretary, 
        to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor 
        and Pensions of the Senate, a report that includes the 
        information in paragraph (2).
            (2) Report requirements.--The reports submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall include each of the following:
                    (A) The condition of public school transportation 
                in the United States, including any disparities in the 
                supply of public school bus drivers on the basis of--
                            (i) geographic location (or urban or rural 
                        status) of a public school or local educational 
                        agency; and
                            (ii) demographic characteristics of 
                        enrolled students or their families, 
                        including--
                                    (I) race and ethnicity;
                                    (II) foreign-born and English as a 
                                second language status;
                                    (III) income and wealth;
                                    (IV) age; and
                                    (V) disability status.
                    (B) A root-cause analysis of the trends in the 
                supply of public school bus drivers over the 20-year 
                period preceding the date of enactment of this Act.
                    (C) A comprehensive examination of compensation for 
                public school bus drivers including--
                            (i) salary or hourly earnings;
                            (ii) offered hours of work per week;
                            (iii) summer employment, or access to 
                        unemployment insurance;
                            (iv) retirement savings; and
                            (v) health care insurance.
                    (D) Consideration of working conditions for public 
                school bus drivers including--
                            (i) student discipline and behavior;
                            (ii) personal safety; and
                            (iii) school bus temperatures and 
                        ventilation.
                    (E) Consideration of the impact of privatization on 
                the public school transportation system.
                    (F) Recommendations to address and alleviate any 
                disparities or shortages in the supply of public school 
                bus drivers identified under subparagraphs (A) through 
                (E), including areas for executive action and areas for 
                legislative action at the Federal and State level, and 
                guidance for State educational agencies and local 
                educational agencies.

SEC. 3. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Comptroller General of the United States, shall submit to Congress 
and make publicly available, a report that identifies recommended 
changes at the Federal executive and legislative levels to address any 
disparities or shortages in the supply of public school bus drivers.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``local 
        educational agency'', ``parent'', ``secondary school'', 
        ``Secretary'', and ``State educational agency'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Public school.--The term ``public school'' means--
                    (A) a public elementary school; and
                    (B) a public secondary school.
                                 <all>
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