GA Code § 20-2-1070 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 20 - Education|Chapter 2 - Elementary and Secondary Education|Article 22 - School Buses|Part 1 - Powers of State and Local School Officials|§ 20-2-1070. Powers of State Board of Education as to Bus Drivers' Salaries, Federal and Other Transportation Aid, and Standards for Vehicles and Drivers

 The State Board of Education is authorized to use a part of the public school fund to pay the salaries of bus drivers employed by the several county boards of education. The state board is authorized to administer any and all appropriations that may be made by the United States Congress, its agencies, or bureaus to assist this state in the maintenance and operation of pupil transportation and to administer all funds allocated or appropriated or otherwise made available by the state for pupil transportation; the state board is further authorized to accept and receive donations and gifts of both real and personal property, including vehicles and other equipment, from either public or private sources as may be offered for the support, maintenance, and operation of pupil transportation.   (Ga. L. 1947, p. 1461, § 1.)   Cross references.   - Funding pupil transportation, § 20-2-188.   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, decisions under former Code 1933, § 32-919, which was subsequently repealed but was succeeded by provisions in this Code section, are included in the annotations for this Code section.   School authorities engaged in transporting children not liable for negligence.    - Transportation by authorities of a local school district, or the trustees of a local school district, of children to and from school by a motor bus makes accessible to the children the facilities of education authorized and provided for the children by law and is therefore a part of the operation of the school system, and the authorities, when engaged in this transportation, are in the operation of a governmental function and are therefore not liable in tort, either in an official capacity, or as individuals, for any negligence, through themselves or the authorities' agents, in the operation by the authorities of the motor bus which causes injuries to one of the school children while being transported to and from school. Roberts v. Baker, 57 Ga. App. 733, 196 S.E. 104 (1938) (decided under former Code 1933, § 32-919).   Knowing employment of driver guilty of negligence not malice or willful and wanton conduct.    - Whether or not school authorities, in the operation of the school motor bus, notwithstanding that the authorities are engaged in the performance of a governmental function, would be liable for damages caused by the bus resulting from the authorities' malicious acts or willful and wanton conduct in the operation of the bus, the employment by the authorities of a driver who the authorities know has been guilty of negligence or any conduct in the operation of the bus which caused injury to one of the passengers does not constitute malice or willful and wanton conduct. Roberts v. Baker, 57 Ga. App. 733, 196 S.E. 104 (1938) (decided under former Code 1933, § 32-919).    Cited in Smith v. Kicklighter, 213 Ga. 15, 96 S.E.2d 885 (1957).   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Liability of School Bus Driver or School for Injury to Child Going to or from School Bus, 13 POF3d 475.   C.J.S.   - 78A C.J.S., Schools and School Districts, § 1030 et seq.   ALR.    - Gift for public school as a valid charitable gift, 48 A.L.R. 1126.    Transportation of school pupils at expense of public, 63 A.L.R. 413; 118 A.L.R. 806; 146 A.L.R. 625.   Nature and extent of transportation that must be furnished under statute requiring free transportation of school pupils, 52 A.L.R.3d 1036.