Ohio Administrative Code › Title 3301 - Department of Education - Administration and Director › Chapter 3301-83 - Pupil Transportation › Section 3301-83-19 - Authorized vehicles for transportation of pupils to and from school and school-related events

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
The following are authorized vehicles for the transportation of
				pupils to and from school and school-related events:
(A) School buses
All vehicles designed to carry more than nine passengers, not
				including the driver, and used to transport pupils to or from school or
				school-related events shall meet or exceed all applicable federal regulations
				and the Ohio school bus construction standards. Refer to division (F) of
				section 4511.01 of the Revised Code and
				rules
				4501-5-01 to
				4501-5-04 of the Administrative Code.
(B) Public transit vehicles
Public transit vehicles includes vehicles owned and operated by
				regional transit authorities or community transit authorities, or which are
				privately owned, under contract with a board of education or county board of
				developmental disabilities and operated on routes designed for the purpose of
				transporting fare-paying passengers and eligible pupils simultaneously.
Nonconforming vehicles (i.e. ten to fifteen passenger motor
				vehicles not meeting the FMCSR's for a school bus) shall not be used for the
				transportation of pupils by any carrier unless they exceed ten-thousand pounds
				GVWR or are designed to carry more than sixteen
									 passengers including the
				driver.
(C) Vehicles other
			 than school buses
Vehicles originally designed and constructed at the factory for
				nine or fewer passengers, not including the driver, to be used when school bus
				transportation cannot be reasonably provided,
									 shall not be routinely used for service
				to and from regularly scheduled school sessions except for preschool children,
				special needs children, homeless children, foster
				children, children inaccessible to school buses,
				 students placed in alternative schools
				or for work programs. This paragraph does not apply to
				parental transportation of children as set forth in rule
				3301-83-04
				of the Administrative Code.
Requirements for vehicles identified in
				this section shall include the following:
(1) The vehicle shall be equipped with safety
			 equipment including a fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, body fluid cleanup kit,
			 fuses, spare fuses, and emergency reflectors.
(2) The vehicle shall have a rooftop sign
			 marked "School Transportation."
(3)
			 The name of the school district, or the name of the contractor, if applicable,
			 shall be clearly marked on the side of the vehicle.
(4) These vehicles shall be inspected by a
			 qualified mechanic not less than two times per year. This inspection shall
			 cover at the minimum all applicable sections of the school bus inspection
			 detailed in paragraph (B) of rule
			 3301-83-11
			 of the Administrative Code. In addition, periodic maintenance intervals shall
			 be established and implemented. Documentation and proof of these inspections
			 and service procedures, in addition to all other vehicle records required under
			 rule
			 3301-83-14 of
			 the Administrative Code, shall be kept on file with the school district
			 transportation department.
(5) It
			 is the responsibility of each vehicle driver to complete and document a daily
			 pre-trip inspection before transporting pupils. The vehicle owner may designate
			 another qualified individual to complete and record portions of the stationary
			 inspection in lieu of the vehicle driver. Pre-trip inspection records shall be
			 kept on file for a minimum of twelve months.
(6) Loading of these vehicles shall be
			 performed in compliance with the passenger, weight, and other associated
			 restrictions as identified by the original equipment manufacturer.
(7) Drivers of these vehicles shall meet all
			 qualifications for school transportation drivers as identified in paragraph (F)
			 of rule
			 3301-83-06
			 of the Administrative Code and section
			 3327.10 of the Revised
			 Code.