Subdivision 1 [Definitions.] defines terms for the purposes of this section.

Subdivision 2 [Privatization Contracts; Requirements.]

Paragraph (a) makes this section applicable to school districts that put out requests for proposals for contracts of $25,000 or greater.

Paragraph (b) requires a district to prepare a written statement of the services to be provided under the proposed contract, defines the items to be included in the contract, and requires the district to notify an exclusive representative of the employees that would be affected by a proposed privatization contract of its intention to enter into such a contract.

Paragraph (c) requires a responder of the request for services to disclose:

• The length of continuous employment of the responder's current employees identified by their job classification;



• The number of hours of accompanied behind-the-wheel training for drivers, minimum length of time each driver has held a license and bus endorsement, and the minimum completed hours of training and a content summary of the training;



• The responder's current annual rate of employee turnover;
• The driver and aide recruitment and retention plan of the responder;



• The number of hours planned for each employee relating to duties to be performed by the employee;



• Any complaints issued by an enforcement agency relating to alleged violations of relevant laws or rules;



• Any collective bargaining agreements or personnel policies covering the employees to perform services under the proposed privatization contract; and



• Any political contribution made by the responder or managerial employee of the responder.

Paragraph (d) requires a school district to award a transportation contract in the interest of student safety and cost-effectiveness.

Paragraph (e) requires the minimum wage rate for an employee of a private contractor providing services for a school district under this section to be equal to or greater than the average wage provided to employees in the nearest school district where student transportation services are owned and operated by the district.

Paragraph (f) limits the term of the contract to two years.

Paragraph (g) requires the contract to impose affirmative action standards on the private contractor and any subcontractors that are at least as stringent as those applying to the contracting school district.

Paragraph (h) prohibits the use of public money to support or oppose the organization of its employees by an exclusive representative, facilitate or deter the ability of an exclusive representative of its employees to carry out the exclusive representative's responsibilities or speak to employees on company premises during nonpaid work time, or assist a subcontractor to facilitate or deter the lawful activities of an exclusive representative of its employees.

Subdivision 3 [Review of Contract Costs.]

Paragraph (a) requires a district that is considering entering into a privatization contract to prepare a written estimate of having the same service provided in the most cost-effective manner by district employees; identifies when the estimate becomes public data; prohibits the district from counting the onetime revenue from the sale of buses or bus yards for the purpose of determining cost savings; requires the district to bargain in good faith.

Paragraph (b) requires the district to publicly designate the responder which it proposes to award the contract; as part of the selection process, the district shall consider the responder's past performance and record of compliance with federal and state law; requires the district to prepare a written estimate of the cost of the proposal based on the responder's bid.

Paragraph (c) requires the district to certify in writing that:

• The board has complied with this section;



• The quality of services to be provided by the responder will equal or exceed the quality of services that could be provided by district employees;



• The cost of the proposed contract, including all costs identified under paragraph (b) will be at least 15 percent lower than the cost determined under paragraph (a); and



• The cost of the proposed contract is in the public interest.

Subdivision 4 [Data Practices.] states that the data relating to a privatization contract are public.

Section 2 [School Bus Drivers.]

Subdivision 1 [Driver Pay.] requires that school bus drivers be paid for the actual time worked.

Subdivision 2 [Right to Refuse.] gives school bus drivers the right to refuse to operate a bus immediately after the driver has documented needed bus safety repairs. Requires that the driver be provided an alternate bus, if available; and prohibits the driver from being penalized in any way for consequences incurred by the employer for delays or failure to operate the route.

Section 3 [Pilot Project.]

Subdivision 1. [Establishment.] establishes a pilot project to investigate the potential cost savings and other benefits of multidistrict cooperation on student transportation.

Subdivision 2. [Grant.] appropriates money to the Department of Education for a grant to Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis and ISD No. 625, St. Paul, for the purpose of acquiring land, constructing necessary facilities, acquiring vehicles, and other costs associated with the construction or improvement of a school bus facility.

SM/syl

Check on the status of this bill

Back to Senate Counsel and Research Bill Summaries page

This page is maintained by the Office of Senate Counsel, Research, and Fiscal Analysis for the Minnesota Senate.

Last review or update: 04/12/2007

If you see any errors on this page, please e-mail us at webmaster@senate.mn.