"Non-routine student transportation" is defined as
transportation of passengers for purposes other than regularly scheduled routes
to and from school. School buses may be used for non-routine trips only when
such trips will not interfere with routine transportation services.
Passengers participating in non-routine use of school
vehicles shall receive safety instructions at the beginning of the non-routine
trip. The return portion of a round trip event is excluded from this
requirement. Instruction shall include identification of safety exits,
requirement to keep aisles clear, requirement to remain seated while the bus is
in motion, and safe riding practices including instruction on rules as adopted
by the vehicle owner's policy.
Any use of school buses other than transporting students to or
from a school session or a school function may require the school bus owner to
obtain approval of the vehicle and operator as a commercial motor carrier
pursuant to federal motor carrier safety administration (fmcsa.dot.gov), Ohio
department of transportation rules and regulations, and, in accordance with
section 4511.01 of the Revised Code and
rule
3301-83-19
of the Administrative Code.
(A)
Permits
School bus owners, superintendents or their designees shall
issue a trip permit which shall accompany the driver on any non-routine student
transportation trip. The permit shall provide the following information:
(1) Date of trip;
(2) Destination;
(3) Purpose of trip;
(4) Name of school district;
(5) Drivers name;
(6) Bus registration number or vehicle
license number;
(7) Total miles of
trip;
(8) Designated
stops;
(9) Route map and/or written
directions for destination;
(10)
School bus owners, superintendent or designee signature.
(B) Chaperones
One or more adult chaperones, as approved by the school bus
owner, superintendent or designee, may accompany each school bus or van
required for any non-routine trip involving school-age passengers. The
chaperon's responsibility shall be to assist the school transportation vehicle
driver in maintaining passenger control and in enforcing procedures for the
safety of all passengers. A certificated person licensed as a school bus driver
may serve as a chaperon and driver concurrently.
(C) Out-of-state trips
The board of education of any school district that owns and
operates motor vehicles for transporting pupils may permit such vehicles to be
used outside of Ohio for any lawful purpose provided the entire distance
traveled outside Ohio on any trip does not exceed one-thousand miles. The
calculation of mileage of the trip shall be the distance from point of exit
from the state to the point of entry to the state.
(D) Driver selection for assignment to
non-routine trips should be based upon a policy adopted by the school bus owner
which gives consideration to driver knowledge, skill, experience, vehicle
familiarity and experience in operating a bus in the area to be
traveled.
(E) A pre-trip inspection
as detailed in paragraph (B) of rule
3301-83-11
of the Administrative Code shall be completed and documented immediately prior
to departure of a school bus on a non-routine trip. Such pre-trip inspection
will not be necessary provided the bus received a documented pre-trip
inspection during routine service on the same day and by the same
driver.
(F) Transportation
coordination
(1) Each school bus owner or
district may participate in the written county transportation plan that
establishes policies regarding the transportation needs of Ohio works first
participants seeking or striving to retain employment. A copy of the plan shall
be maintained on file.
(2) Based
upon the availability of local and/or state resources, school bus owners or
districts may enter into contractual agreements with local social service
agencies to provide school bus transportation to Ohio works first participants,
when there are no other alternative methods of transportation as identified in
the county transportation plan.
The social service agency(ies) shall pay for the fully
allocated costs associated with the use of the school transportation
vehicles.
(a) The agency(ies) shall
agree to hold harmless the school bus owner or district from all liability
arising from such use.
(b) The
school bus owner, district and/or agency(ies) must obtain liability in an
amount equal to or greater than the maximum tort damage permitted by
law.
(c) The proposed use is
consistent with owner or district policies regarding the use of school
transportation vehicles.
(d)
Mileage under such contract/agreement is not
reimbursable
reimburseable by the department of
education.
(3) School
bus owners or districts may enter into agreement with any recognized
organization serving the aged to provide for the use of school transportation
vehicles under certain conditions:
(a) The
organization must pay for the fully allocated costs associated with the use of
the transportation vehicles.
(b)
The organization must agree to hold harmless the school bus owner or district
from all liability arising from such use.
(c) The school bus owner or district and/or
organization must obtain liability in an amount equal to or greater than the
maximum tort damage permitted by law.
(d) The proposed use is consistent with owner
policies regarding the use of school transportation vehicles.
(e) Mileage under such contract/agreement is
not
reimbursable
reimburseable by the department of
education.
(4) The first
priority for the use of school transportation vehicles must be for the purposes
outlined in Chapter 3301-83 of the Administrative Code.
(5) Transportation coordination shall not be
conducted during those times the school transportation vehicle is in regular
use and school children, or persons attending programs offered by community
boards of county boards of mental retardation and developmental disabilities,
are being transported.
(6) It will
be the responsibility of the school bus owner or district to ensure compliance
to all laws and regulations applicable to such additional use of the school
transportation vehicles.
Notes
Ohio Admin. Code
3301-83-16
Effective:
7/22/2019
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates:
5/2/2019 and
07/22/2024
Promulgated
Under: 119.03
Statutory
Authority: 3301.07,
4511.76
Rule
Amplifies: 3327.16;
3327.15;
4511.76
Prior
Effective Dates: 09/01/1970, 10/22/1984, 07/01/1991, 10/05/1998, 10/01/2004,
05/23/2008, 07/25/2013