Administrative Rules of Montana › Department 10 - EDUCATION › Chapter 10.7 - PUPIL TRANSPORTATION › Subchapter 10.7.1 - Pupil Transportation › Rule 10.7.101 - INTRODUCTION

Current through Register Vol. 13, July 5, 2024
(1) The following rules are adopted to
				implement
				20-10-112,
				MCA, which requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to prescribe such
				rules as may be necessary to have a uniform and equal provision of
				transportation by all districts in the state of Montana.
(2) The following list briefly states in
				chronological order the administrative steps for school transportation. This
				list is not a substitute for the more detailed requirements stated in these
				rules:
(a) By July 1 a district must send
				copies of all completed school bus contracts to the county
				superintendent.
(b) By July 1 a
				district must do all of the following:
(i)
				complete and sign transportation contracts (three copies) for the ensuing
				year;
(ii) send to the county
				superintendent copies of all completed individual transportation contracts;
				and
(iii) submit individual
				transportation contracts electronically to the Superintendent of Public
				Instruction.
(c) By the
				fourth Monday in July a county transportation committee (CTC) must act to
				approve or not approve all bus routes established by districts. The CTC must
				also act on all applications for increased individual payments due to
				isolation. Approval of board of trustees for increased payments is required
				prior to CTC action.
(d) By October
				1, the county superintendent must electronically acknowledge receipt of all
				individual transportation contracts and electronically authorize individual
				transportation contracts for which the CTC has approved increased payments due
				to isolation.
(e) At least 30 days
				prior to the beginning of the first semester the Montana Highway Patrol must
				inspect all school buses used to transport students. If necessary, the buses
				must be reinspected before the beginning of the semester.
(f) By the second Monday in September the
				county superintendent must send the final budgets for the ensuing year to the
				Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(g) By November 1 a district must send the
				county superintendent one copy of the TR-1 for each bus route and submit a TR-1
				for each bus route electronically to the Superintendent of Public
				Instruction.
(h) By November 10 the
				county superintendent must electronically approve each TR-1 submitted by the
				district in (2)(g).
(i) By
				mid-November the Superintendent of Public Instruction must electronically
				notify county superintendents and district clerks of the approved rates for
				individual and isolated contracts.
(j) Upon receipt of the approved rates
				required in (2)(i) a district must provide a copy of the contract to each
				parent, guardian, or emancipated minor with whom the district holds a
				contract.
(k) Sixty days after the
				beginning of the school year, or 60 days after employment, the first-aid
				competency requirement for new bus drivers must be completed.
(l) By January 31 buses must have passed the
				inspection for the second semester.
(m) By February 15 a district must send the
				county superintendent one copy of transportation claims TR-5 and TR-6 and
				submit the claims electronically to the Superintendent of Public
				Instruction.
(n) By February 22 the
				county superintendent must electronically authorize each district TR-5 and TR-6
				claim for the first semester.
(o)
				Upon receipt of electronic claims, the Superintendent of Public Instruction
				verifies the claims and disburses the approved amount of state reimbursement
				for first semester transportation. Payments will be made on or before March
				31.
(p) Upon receipt of electronic
				state payment notice the county superintendent orders the disbursement of
				county reimbursement for first semester transportation on the basis of state
				reimbursement.
(q) By May 24 a
				district must send the county superintendent one copy of completed
				transportation claims TR-5 and TR-6 and submit the claims electronically to the
				Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(r) By June 1 the county superintendent must
				electronically authorize each district TR-5 and TR-6 claim for the second
				semester.
(s) Upon receipt of
				electronic claims the Superintendent of Public Instruction verifies the claims
				and disburses the approved amount of state reimbursement for second semester
				transportation. Payments will be made on or before June 30.
(t) Upon receipt of electronic state payment
				notice the county superintendent orders the disbursement of county
				reimbursement for second semester transportation on the basis of state
				reimbursement.
(u) Whenever
				necessary, new individual transportation contracts received by the school
				district after final budget adoption are completed by the board of trustees.
				The district will enter and submit the contract electronically to the
				Superintendent of Public Instruction and submit the original to the county
				superintendent.
(v) Whenever
				required, the board of trustees issues Montana school bus driver certification
				to bus drivers and transmits the required copies to the county superintendent.
				The district will submit new and amended driver certifications electronically,
				as they are updated, to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(w) Whenever required, but no later than June
				30, budget amendment proceedings must be completed to provide budget authority
				for additional pupil transportation obligations arising after final budget
				adoption and for which the contingency item is inadequate.