In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Nonpublic school” means an elementary or secondary school in the State that is not part of the public elementary and secondary education system of this State. “Nonpublic school” includes an elementary or secondary school in Calvert County that does not receive State aid. “Public school bus” includes any other conveyance used to transport students to a public school. At its own expense, a county governing body may provide transportation for public school students in addition to the transportation provided by the State. In Montgomery County, a fee may not be charged for transporting public school students to school from their designated bus stop locations or from school to their designated bus stop locations. A county board may provide transportation to and from school using a vehicle other than a Type I or Type II school vehicle, as defined in § 11–154 of the Transportation Article, when a school vehicle cannot reasonably be provided for the following public school students: Preschool–age students; Students with disabilities; Homeless youth; Children in foster care; Students without access to school buses; Students in a nonpublic school placement; or Students in dual enrollment programs, work programs, or other educational programs based off the school campus. A county board may provide transportation in accordance with this subsection to a particular student group that is not listed under paragraph (1) of this subsection through a written determination by the county board. The Department, in consultation with county boards and the Motor Vehicle Administration, shall adopt regulations establishing minimum vehicle and driver safety standards for transportation provided in accordance with this subsection. Subject to the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subsection, in Calvert County the county board may provide transportation to and from school on a public school bus for a student who attends a nonpublic school. Transportation offered by the Calvert County Board under this section shall be offered to a student attending a nonpublic school: If there is sufficient capacity on the school bus; If the student resides on, along, or near a public highway in the county on which a public school bus or conveyance operates; If the student resides in the public school transportation district served by the public school bus; Only on the routes, school days, and hours of transportation that coincide with the routes, school days, and hours of transportation for students attending public schools in the county; and In the case of a student who attends a nonpublic school that is not on the public school bus route, only to the public school on the route which is nearest to the nonpublic school. The Calvert County Board is not responsible for the safety of any nonpublic school student who is transported on a public school bus under this subsection after the student is discharged from the public school bus, and the board may not be held liable in any civil action arising from an act or omission that occurs after the student is discharged from the public school bus.

This section applies only: In Montgomery County; and To a school bus stop at a location for which at least 400 citations were issued in the preceding fiscal year to drivers traveling in the opposite direction of the bus stop. Beginning on December 31, 2028, a school bus stop may not be located on any highway with five or more undivided traffic lanes unless: A school crossing guard is posted at the school bus stop to assist students in crossing the highway; or A traffic control device that maintains a red signal while a student is boarding or exiting a school bus is placed at the school bus stop.

If an individual meets all other requirements established by the State Board, he may not be prohibited from operating a school bus solely because of his age.

Each county board may establish a procedure to provide for the use of its school buses, on application, for the transportation of individuals 60 years old or older to civic, educational, social, or recreational activities if this use: Does not interfere with the transportation of school children; and Is available to all individuals 60 years old or older. Each county may: Contract with its county board for the use of school buses; and Include funds in the county budget to pay the expenses, including payment of school bus drivers and insurance, incurred by the county board in the use of school buses as provided in this section.

In this section, “school vehicle” has the meaning stated in § 11–154 of the Transportation Article. Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, unless it fails to meet the applicable school bus and motor vehicle safety standards, a school vehicle may be operated for 12 years. In Allegany, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, unless it fails to meet the applicable school bus and motor vehicle safety standards, a school vehicle may be operated for 15 years. A school vehicle operating under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be maintained as provided in subsection (c) of this section. Any school vehicle in operation or accepted before July 1, 2004, or under contract to be purchased before July 1, 2004, that meets the specifications of the Department and of the Motor Vehicle Administration for transit style school vehicles may be operated for 15 years. Notwithstanding the 12–year limitation in subsection (b)(1) of this section, a school vehicle may be operated for additional years if: The school vehicle is maintained under a preventive maintenance plan approved by the Motor Vehicle Administration and the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of the Department of State Police that includes an inspection at the end of the 12th year and a minimum of 2 inspections by the Motor Vehicle Administration each year thereafter; Any structural repairs to the school vehicle necessitated by accident, metal fatigue, or any other cause are certified by an independent expert approved by the Motor Vehicle Administration to meet or exceed the manufacturer’s original manufacturing standards; The school vehicle is equipped with: The body originally placed on the chassis by the manufacturer; An 8 light warning system; A left side stop arm; A fire–retardant driver’s seat; Fire–retardant barriers in the case of a school vehicle with a front engine; and A fire–retardant rear seating area in the case of a school vehicle with a rear engine; and The State Superintendent grants approval. If a school vehicle passes an inspection that is required under subsection (c)(1) of this section: The inspection shall be valid in the county in which the inspection was completed; and If ownership of the school vehicle is transferred to a person who operates the school vehicle in a county in which school vehicles are authorized under subsection (b)(2) of this section to be operated for 15 years, the inspection shall be valid in that county for the length of time that the inspection would have been valid in the county where the inspection was completed.

A school bus may be used to transport any student who lives within the mileage limit, if a mileage limit has been established by a local board of education, and if: The school bus is not filled to capacity; No additional bus stop is added to the route to transport the student; and The transportation officer or his designee has identified a specific existing hardship that would justify allowing the student to be transported. The transportation allocation of a county may not be reduced because of compliance with this section.

In Baltimore County, the Superintendent of Schools shall establish a Pupil Transportation Safety Advisory Committee. The Pupil Transportation Safety Advisory Committee shall be composed of at least the following: Two parent members, appointed by the Superintendent; A representative of the Baltimore County Police Department; A representative of the Baltimore County Highway Department; A representative of the Baltimore County traffic engineering office; and A representative of the State Highway Administration. The committee shall be available to advise the pupil transportation staff of the Baltimore County Board of Education with regard to matters of safety of school bus stops and the safety of student walking conditions.

This section applies only to Baltimore County. A school bus driver shall pick up or discharge a student at a designated bus stop that is located along a public road or highway in a manner that does not require the student to walk across the public road or highway: If the student is an elementary school student and the public road or highway has a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or greater; and If the student is a secondary school student and the public road or highway has a posted speed limit of 40 miles per hour or greater. A public awareness campaign concerning school bus pick up and discharge shall be conducted by the Baltimore County Board of Education and the Transportation Department of the Baltimore County Public Schools, in conjunction with the Baltimore County Police Department, 1 month prior to the opening of school and during the first month of each school year.

In this section, “school bus” has the meaning stated in § 11–153 of the Transportation Article. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a school bus shall be constructed with materials that enable it to meet all the criteria of the school bus seat upholstery fire block test established by the National School Transportation specifications and procedures adopted at the most recent National Congress on School Transportation. The requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection do not apply to the driver’s seat of a school bus. The Motor Vehicle Administration, with the advice of the Department, shall adopt regulations to promote fire safety standards of school buses.

In Montgomery County, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Montgomery County Board of Education may utilize a school bus with doors that lock to transport students in the county if the school bus’s locking system prevents the school bus from being operated when any bus exit is locked.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Fund” means the State–Aided Institutions Field Trip Fund. “Program” means the State–Aided Institutions Field Trip Grant Program. There is a State–Aided Institutions Field Trip Grant Program in the Department. The purpose of the Program is to provide grants to public schools to provide transportation to students for field trips to educational institutions that are qualified as State–aided educational institutions under Title 5, Subtitle 5 of this article. The Department shall: Administer the Program; Establish application procedures for the Program; and Award grants from the Program. Subject to the availability of money in the Fund, a public school may apply for a grant under the Program for expenses paid or incurred, or that will be paid or incurred, to provide transportation to students for field trips to educational institutions that are qualified as State–aided educational institutions under Title 5, Subtitle 5 of this article. When making grants, the Department shall prioritize public schools at which at least 40% of the registered students are eligible for the federal free or reduced price meal program. There is a State–Aided Institutions Field Trip Fund. The Department shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: Money received by the Fund from fines for vehicle security lapses under § 17–106 of the Transportation Article; and Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund may be used only for: Providing grants under the Program; and Administrative costs of the Program. The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State. The Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this section.