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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5625 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5625

To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize the Clean School 
                  Bus program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            December 19 (legislative day, December 16), 2024

  Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Warnock) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment 
                            and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize the Clean School 
                  Bus program, 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 ``Clean Commute for Kids Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. CLEAN SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 741 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16091) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 741. CLEAN SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            ``(2) Charging infrastructure.--The term `charging 
        infrastructure', with respect to zero-emission school buses, 
        includes bidirectional charging equipment that can receive 
        energy from electric vehicle supply equipment and provide 
        energy to an external load when the bidirectional charging 
        equipment is paired with similarly capable electric vehicle 
        supply equipment.
            ``(3) Community of color.--The term `community of color' 
        means a geographically distinct area in which the population of 
        any of the following categories of individuals is higher than 
        the average population of that category for the State in which 
        the community is located:
                    ``(A) Black.
                    ``(B) African American.
                    ``(C) Asian.
                    ``(D) Pacific Islander.
                    ``(E) Other non-White race.
                    ``(F) Hispanic.
                    ``(G) Latino.
                    ``(H) Linguistically isolated.
                    ``(I) Middle Eastern and North African.
            ``(4) Eligible contractor.--The term `eligible contractor' 
        means a contractor that is a for-profit, not-for-profit, or 
        nonprofit entity that has the capacity--
                    ``(A) to sell, lease, license, or contract for 
                service zero-emission school buses, charging 
                infrastructure, or other equipment needed to charge or 
                maintain zero-emission school buses, to individuals or 
                entities that own, lease, license, or contract for 
                service a school bus or a fleet of school buses; or
                    ``(B) to arrange financing for such a sale, lease, 
                license, or contract for service.
            ``(5) Eligible manufacturer.--The term `eligible 
        manufacturer' means a manufacturer of zero-emission school 
        buses included on the list under subsection (b)(3)(A).
            ``(6) Eligible recipient.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                term `eligible recipient' means--
                            ``(i) 1 or more local, State, or Federal 
                        governmental entities, including the General 
                        Services Administration, responsible for--
                                    ``(I) providing school bus service 
                                to 1 or more public school systems; or
                                    ``(II) the purchase, lease, 
                                license, or contract for service of 
                                school buses;
                            ``(ii) an eligible contractor;
                            ``(iii) a nonprofit school transportation 
                        association;
                            ``(iv) a charter school (as defined in 
                        section 4310 of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7221i)) 
                        responsible for the purchase, lease, license, 
                        or contract for service of school buses for 
                        that charter school; or
                            ``(v) an Indian Tribe (as defined in 
                        section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
                        Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)), 
                        Tribal organization (as defined in that 
                        section), or tribally controlled school (as 
                        defined in section 5212 of the Tribally 
                        Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 
                        2511)) that is responsible for--
                                    ``(I) providing school bus service 
                                to 1 or more Bureau-funded schools (as 
                                defined in section 1141 of the 
                                Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 
                                2021)); or
                                    ``(II) the purchase, lease, 
                                license, or contract for service of 
                                school buses.
                    ``(B) Special requirements.--In the case of 
                eligible recipients identified under clauses (ii) and 
                (iii) of subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall 
                establish timely and appropriate requirements for 
                notice and approval by the public school systems that 
                would be served by school buses purchased using award 
                funds made available under this section.
            ``(7) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
        need local educational agency' means a local educational agency 
        that is among the local educational agencies in the applicable 
        State with high percentages of children counted under section 
        1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)), on the basis of the most recent 
        satisfactory data available, as determined by the Secretary of 
        Education (or, for a local educational agency for which no such 
        data is available, such other data as the Secretary of 
        Education determines to be satisfactory).
            ``(8) Local educational agency.--The term `local 
        educational agency' has the meaning given the term in section 
        8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(9) School bus.--The term `school bus' has the meaning 
        given the term `schoolbus' in section 30125(a) of title 49, 
        United States Code.
            ``(10) U.S. jobs plan.--The term `U.S. Jobs Plan' means a 
        plan submitted by a manufacturer of zero-emission school buses 
        that seeks inclusion on the list of eligible manufacturers 
        maintained under subsection (b)(3)(A), which shall include--
                    ``(A) commitments for proposed wages, benefits, and 
                employee training by the manufacturer and the supply 
                chain of the manufacturer for the manufacture of zero-
                emission school buses;
                    ``(B) a commitment by the manufacturer and the 
                supply chain of the manufacturer for the manufacture of 
                zero-emission school buses to recruit and hire--
                            ``(i) individuals with a barrier to 
                        employment (as defined in section 3 of the 
                        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
                        U.S.C. 3102));
                            ``(ii) veterans;
                            ``(iii) individuals who reside in low-
                        income or indigenous communities or communities 
                        of color; and
                            ``(iv) individuals that represent 
                        populations that are traditionally 
                        underrepresented in the manufacturing 
                        workforce, such as women and racial and ethnic 
                        minorities; and
                    ``(C) a narrative description of how the 
                manufacturer and the supply chain of the manufacturer 
                will implement the commitment described in subparagraph 
                (B).
            ``(11) Zero-emission school bus.--The term `zero-emission 
        school bus' means a school bus that is certified by the 
        Administrator to have a drivetrain that produces, under any 
        possible operational mode or condition, zero exhaust emission 
        of--
                    ``(A) any air pollutant that is listed pursuant to 
                section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7408(a)) 
                (or any precursor to such an air pollutant); and
                    ``(B) any greenhouse gas.
    ``(b) Program for Purchase of Zero-Emission School Buses.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a 
        program--
                    ``(A) to award grants and rebates on a competitive 
                basis to eligible recipients for the replacement of 
                existing school buses with zero-emission school buses;
                    ``(B) to award grants and rebates on a competitive 
                basis to eligible recipients for the purchase of new 
                zero-emission school buses;
                    ``(C) to award contracts to eligible contractors to 
                provide grants and rebates for the replacement of 
                existing school buses with zero-emission school buses; 
                and
                    ``(D) to award contracts to eligible contractors to 
                provide grants and rebates for the purchase of new 
                zero-emission school buses.
            ``(2) Applications.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An applicant for an award under 
                paragraph (1) shall submit to the Administrator an 
                application at such time, in such manner, and 
                containing such information as the Administrator may 
                require, including--
                            ``(i) a written assurance that--
                                    ``(I) all laborers and mechanics 
                                employed by contractors or 
                                subcontractors during construction, 
                                alteration, or repair that is financed, 
                                in whole or in part, by an award under 
                                paragraph (1), shall be paid wages at 
                                rates not less than those prevailing in 
                                a similar firm or on similar 
                                construction in the locality, as 
                                determined by the Secretary of Labor in 
                                accordance with subchapter IV of 
                                chapter 31 of title 40, United States 
                                Code; and
                                    ``(II) the applicant agrees to the 
                                authority of the Secretary of Labor 
                                described in subparagraph (B);
                            ``(ii) a certification that no public work 
                        or service normally performed by a public 
                        employee will be privatized or subcontracted in 
                        carrying out a project funded by the award; and
                            ``(iii) a description of--
                                    ``(I) coordination and advance 
                                planning with the local electricity 
                                provider; and
                                    ``(II) how school bus drivers, 
                                mechanics, and local first responders 
                                will be properly trained in the 
                                operation of, maintenance of, repair 
                                of, and emergency response for zero-
                                emission school buses.
                    ``(B) Authority of secretary of labor.--For any 
                project or activity carried out by a recipient of an 
                award under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor 
                shall, with respect to the labor standards described in 
                subparagraph (A)(i)(I), have the authority and 
                functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 
                of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 
                of title 40, United States Code.
                    ``(C) Prioritization.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In making awards under 
                        paragraph (1), the Administrator shall 
                        prioritize applicants that--
                                    ``(I) propose to replace school 
                                buses that serve--
                                            ``(aa) a high-need local 
                                        educational agency;
                                            ``(bb) a Bureau-funded 
                                        school (as defined in section 
                                        1141 of the Education 
                                        Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 
                                        2021)); or
                                            ``(cc) a local educational 
                                        agency that receives a basic 
                                        support payment under section 
                                        7003(b)(1) of the Elementary 
                                        and Secondary Education Act of 
                                        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7703(b)(1)) for 
                                        children who reside on Indian 
                                        land;
                                    ``(II) serve rural or low-income 
                                areas;
                                    ``(III) propose to complement the 
                                assistance received through the award 
                                by securing additional sources of 
                                funding for the activities supported 
                                through the award, such as through--
                                            ``(aa) public-private 
                                        partnerships;
                                            ``(bb) grants from other 
                                        entities; or
                                            ``(cc) issuance of school 
                                        bonds;
                                    ``(IV) serve areas identified by 
                                the Administrator as in nonattainment 
                                of national ambient air quality 
                                standards promulgated under section 109 
                                of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7409) 
                                for ozone or particulate matter; or
                                    ``(V) serve communities of color.
                            ``(ii) Self-certification.--
                                    ``(I) Self-certification 
                                authorized.--For purposes of 
                                determining if a local educational 
                                agency meets a prioritization criterion 
                                described in clause (i), a local 
                                educational agency may, in accordance 
                                with this clause and in addition to any 
                                local educational agencies that the 
                                Administrator determines otherwise meet 
                                a prioritization criterion described in 
                                clause (i), self-certify to the 
                                Administrator that the local 
                                educational agency is--
                                            ``(aa) a high-need local 
                                        educational agency; or
                                            ``(bb) a local educational 
                                        agency that serves a low-income 
                                        area.
                                    ``(II) Title i grants.--A local 
                                educational agency may self-certify 
                                under this clause if not less than 80 
                                percent of the schools within the large 
                                local educational agency received a 
                                grant under title I of the Elementary 
                                and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                                U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) for the 2023/2024 
                                academic year.
                                    ``(III) Certain schools.--A local 
                                educational agency may self-certify a 
                                group of schools within the large local 
                                educational agency under this clause 
                                if--
                                            ``(aa) all schools within 
                                        the group individually received 
                                        grants under title I of the 
                                        Elementary and Secondary 
                                        Education Act of 1965 (20 
                                        U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) for the 
                                        2023/2024 academic year; and
                                            ``(bb) all school buses for 
                                        which an award under paragraph 
                                        (1) is sought will primarily 
                                        serve the schools within the 
                                        group.
                                    ``(IV) Other local educational 
                                agencies.--A local educational agency 
                                may self-certify under this clause if--
                                            ``(aa) the local 
                                        educational agency is not 
                                        included in the most recent 
                                        school district estimates for 
                                        the Small Area Income and 
                                        Poverty Estimates of the Bureau 
                                        of the Census as having 20 
                                        percent or more of students 
                                        living in poverty; and
                                            ``(bb) the local 
                                        educational agency received a 
                                        grant under part A of title I 
                                        of the Elementary and Secondary 
                                        Education Act of 1965 (20 
                                        U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) for the 
                                        2023/2024 academic year.
                    ``(D) Utility partnerships.--An eligible recipient 
                seeking an award under paragraph (1) shall include with 
                an application under subparagraph (A) a worksheet, 
                containing such information as the Administrator may 
                require, detailing the coordination and partnerships of 
                the eligible recipient with electric utilities to 
                prepare for infrastructure projects required to 
                integrate an expanded fleet of zero-emission school 
                buses.
            ``(3) Eligible manufacturers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall maintain 
                and make publicly available a list of manufacturers of 
                zero-emission school buses from whom recipients of 
                awards under paragraph (1) may purchase zero-emission 
                school buses.
                    ``(B) Criteria.--The Administrator shall establish 
                a process by which manufacturers may seek inclusion on 
                the list established under subparagraph (A), which 
                shall include the submission of such information as the 
                Administrator may require, including--
                            ``(i) a disclosure of whether there has 
                        been any administrative merits determination, 
                        arbitral award or decision, or civil judgment, 
                        as defined in guidance issued by the Secretary 
                        of Labor, rendered against the manufacturer in 
                        the preceding 3 years for violations of 
                        applicable labor, employment, civil rights, or 
                        health and safety laws;
                            ``(ii) specific information regarding--
                                    ``(I) the actions the manufacturer 
                                will take to demonstrate compliance 
                                with and, where possible, exceedance of 
                                requirements under applicable labor, 
                                employment, civil rights, and health 
                                and safety laws; and
                                    ``(II) actions the manufacturer 
                                will take to ensure that the direct 
                                suppliers of the manufacturer 
                                demonstrate compliance with applicable 
                                labor, employment, civil rights, and 
                                health and safety laws; and
                            ``(iii) the U.S. Jobs Plan of the 
                        manufacturer.
                    ``(C) U.S. jobs plan.--The Administrator shall--
                            ``(i) establish a scoring mechanism to 
                        evaluate the quality of U.S. Jobs Plans 
                        submitted by manufacturers seeking inclusion on 
                        the list established under subparagraph (A); 
                        and
                            ``(ii) establish regular intervals during 
                        which manufacturers may submit updated U.S. 
                        Jobs Plans and obtain an updated score.
                    ``(D) Enforcement.--The Administrator shall 
                establish an enforcement process for the enforcement of 
                commitments made in the U.S. Jobs Plan of an eligible 
                manufacturer, which shall include--
                            ``(i) a requirement that eligible 
                        manufacturers submit semiannual reports 
                        demonstrating the compliance of the 
                        manufacturer with the U.S. Jobs Plan of the 
                        manufacturer, which shall be certified under 
                        penalty of perjury;
                            ``(ii) a process for removing an eligible 
                        manufacturer from the list in the case of 
                        substantial non-compliance with the U.S. Jobs 
                        Plan of the manufacturer; and
                            ``(iii) a requirement that terms and 
                        conditions of employment and compliance reports 
                        of the U.S. Jobs Plan will be public 
                        information and will be made public on 
                        USAspending.gov.
            ``(4) Use of funds.--
                    ``(A) Use of school buses.--All zero-emission 
                school buses acquired using an award under paragraph 
                (1) shall--
                            ``(i) be purchased from an eligible 
                        manufacturer;
                            ``(ii) be operated as part of the school 
                        bus fleet for which the award was made for not 
                        less than 5 years, except that, if the award is 
                        to an eligible contractor and the contract with 
                        the local educational agency (including charter 
                        schools operating as local educational agencies 
                        under State law) ends before the end of the 5-
                        year period, those school buses may be operated 
                        as part of another local educational agency 
                        eligible for the same or higher priority 
                        consideration under paragraph (2)(C)(i), 
                        subject to the limitations under paragraph (6);
                            ``(iii) be maintained, operated, and 
                        charged according to manufacturer 
                        recommendations or State requirements; and
                            ``(iv) not be manufactured or retrofitted 
                        with, or otherwise have installed, a power unit 
                        or other technology that creates air pollution 
                        within the school bus, such as an unvented 
                        diesel passenger heater.
                    ``(B) Installation of equipment.--Any charging 
                infrastructure purchased or installed using an award 
                under paragraph (1) shall be installed with the 
                participation of electricians certified for the 
                installation of electric vehicle supply equipment by 
                the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program.
            ``(5) Awards.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In making awards under paragraph 
                (1), the Administrator may make awards for up to 100 
                percent of the costs for replacement of existing school 
                buses with zero-emission school buses, the purchase of 
                new zero-emission school buses, charging 
                infrastructure, and project implementation, such as 
                work training.
                    ``(B) Structuring awards.--In making an award under 
                subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), the 
                Administrator shall decide whether to award a grant or 
                rebate, or a combination thereof, based primarily on 
                how best to facilitate replacing existing school buses 
                with zero-emission school buses or purchasing new zero-
                emission school buses.
                    ``(C) Scoring.--In making awards under paragraph 
                (1), the Administrator may--
                            ``(i) base the amount of an award, in part, 
                        on the score determined using the scoring 
                        mechanism established pursuant to paragraph 
                        (3)(C); and
                            ``(ii) as a result of the basis described 
                        in clause (i), make a larger award for zero-
                        emission school buses purchased from higher-
                        scoring manufacturers.
            ``(6) Deployment and distribution.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall--
                            ``(i) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                        achieve nationwide deployment of zero-emission 
                        school buses through the program under this 
                        section; and
                            ``(ii) ensure a broad geographic 
                        distribution of awards.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The Administrator shall ensure 
                that the amount received by all eligible recipients in 
                a State from grants and rebates under this section does 
                not exceed 10 percent of the amounts made available to 
                carry out this section during a fiscal year.
            ``(7) Annual report.--Not later than January 31 of each 
        year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that 
        evaluates the implementation of this section and describes--
                    ``(A) the total number of applications received;
                    ``(B) the quantity and amount of grants and rebates 
                awarded and the location of the recipients of the 
                grants and rebates;
                    ``(C) the criteria used to select the recipients; 
                and
                    ``(D) any other information the Administrator 
                considers appropriate.
    ``(c) Education and Outreach.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
        of enactment of the Clean Commute for Kids Act of 2024, the 
        Administrator shall develop an education and outreach program 
        to promote and explain the award program under this section.
            ``(2) Coordination with stakeholders.--The education and 
        outreach program under paragraph (1) shall be designed and 
        conducted in conjunction with interested national school bus 
        transportation associations, labor unions, electric utilities, 
        manufacturers of zero-emission school buses, manufacturers of 
        components of zero-emission school buses, clean transportation 
        nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders.
            ``(3) Components.--The education and outreach program under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) inform potential award recipients on the 
                process of applying for awards and fulfilling the 
                requirements of awards;
                    ``(B) describe the benefits of using the 
                technologies for which awards under subsection (b)(1) 
                are available;
                    ``(C) explain the benefits and costs incurred by 
                participating in the award program;
                    ``(D) make available information regarding best 
                practices, lessons learned, and technical and other 
                information regarding--
                            ``(i) zero-emission school bus acquisition 
                        and deployment;
                            ``(ii) the build-out of associated 
                        infrastructure and advance planning with the 
                        local electricity supplier;
                            ``(iii) workforce development, training, 
                        and Registered Apprenticeships that meet the 
                        requirements under parts 29 and 30 of title 29, 
                        Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on 
                        December 1, 2023);
                            ``(iv) the benefits of aggregate purchasing 
                        using grant awards from the award program under 
                        this section; and
                            ``(v) any other information that is 
                        necessary, as determined by the Administrator;
                    ``(E) include, as appropriate, information from the 
                annual report required under subsection (b)(7); and
                    ``(F) in consultation with the Secretary, make 
                information available about how zero-emission school 
                buses can be part of building community resilience to 
                the effects of climate change.
    ``(d) Administrative Costs.--The Administrator may use, for the 
administrative costs of carrying out this section, not more than 3 
percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for any 
fiscal year.
    ``(e) Regulations.--The Administrator shall have the authority to 
promulgate such regulations or other guidance, forms, instructions, and 
publications as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the 
programs, projects, or activities authorized under this section, 
including to ensure that such programs, projects, or activities are 
completed in a timely and effective manner, result in emissions 
reductions, and maximize public health benefits.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section, to remain 
available until expended--
            ``(1) $2,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 
        2026; and
            ``(2) $3,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 
        2032.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) takes 
effect on October 1, 2024.

SEC. 3. OTHER MATTERS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Clean school bus program.--The term ``Clean School Bus 
        program'' means the program for grants and rebates established 
        under paragraph (1) of section 741(b) of the Energy Policy Act 
        of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16091(b)).
            (3) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (4) School bus.--The term ``school bus'' has the meaning 
        given the term ``schoolbus'' in section 30125(a) of title 49, 
        United States Code.
            (5) Vehicle-to-building/home program.--The term ``vehicle-
        to-building/home program'' means a program for the installation 
        and operation of technology to allow for energy stored in an 
        electric vehicle, including a zero-emission school bus, to be 
        discharged to a building or home for the purposes of--
                    (A) providing backup power; or
                    (B) avoiding peak energy use demand charges.
            (6) Vehicle-to-grid program.--The term ``vehicle-to-grid 
        program'' means a program for the installation and operation 
        of--
                    (A) technology to allow for 2-way power flow 
                between a zero-emission school bus and the electric 
                grid--
                            (i) to allow users, including school 
                        districts, to sell energy back to the grid at 
                        during times of high demand; and
                            (ii) to increase the resiliency of users, 
                        including schools, in natural disasters by 
                        providing a backup source of energy to allow 
                        facilities to function as shelters; and
                    (B) communications hardware and software that 
                allows for external control of battery charging and 
                discharging that have the functions described in 
                clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A).
            (7) Zero-emission school bus.--The term ``zero-emission 
        school bus'' has the meaning given the term in section 741(a) 
        of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16091(a)).
    (b) Study on Zero-Emission School Bus Prices.--Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--
            (1) carry out, and submit to Congress a report describing 
        the results of, a study that examines the effects of the Clean 
        School Bus program on zero-emission school bus prices; and
            (2) in the report required under paragraph (1), provide 
        recommendations on how zero-emission school buses can reach 
        cost-parity with diesel-powered school buses.
    (c) Technical Assistance Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
        the Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and 
        Transportation, shall develop and carry out a program to 
        provide technical assistance to--
                    (A) eligible recipients that meet 1 or more of the 
                prioritization categories described in paragraph 
                (2)(C)(i) of section 741(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 
                2005 (42 U.S.C. 16091(b)); and
                    (B) electric utilities that serve the recipients of 
                grants and rebates under the Clean School Bus program, 
                to ensure that those electric utilities are prepared to 
                work with recipients of awards under the Clean School 
                Bus program and are capable of supporting school bus 
                electrification.
            (2) Types of assistance.--The program established under 
        paragraph (1) shall provide technical assistance to the 
        entities described in that paragraph, including, as 
        applicable--
                    (A) providing assistance on applying for grants or 
                rebates under the Clean School Bus program;
                    (B) providing assistance on the deployment, 
                operation, maintenance, training, and disposal of zero-
                emission school buses and associated charging 
                infrastructure, including battery recycling and reuse;
                    (C) preparing eligible recipients for coordination 
                with electric utilities and relevant service providers;
                    (D) providing assistance in the deployment, 
                operationalization, and maintenance of zero-emission 
                school buses;
                    (E) providing assistance in developing zero-
                emission school bus battery disposition, reuse, and 
                recycling plans; and
                    (F) establishing charging coordination and 
                planning, including bus route planning and the 
                availability of charging infrastructure technologies.
            (3) Best practices.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator, in consultation with the Executive Director of 
        the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, shall develop 
        best practices for electric utilities and State regulatory 
        authorities (as defined in section 3 of the Public Utility 
        Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602)) to plan and 
        carry out programs for the equitable deployment of zero-
        emission school buses, including vehicle-to-grid programs and 
        vehicle-to-building/home programs.
            (4) Requirement.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator, in consultation with the Executive Director of 
        the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, shall ensure 
        transparency and data-sharing on vehicle-to-grid programs and 
        vehicle-to-building/home programs and the compensation of those 
        programs to school bus operators.
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