HB 22-1395: Competitive Transportation Innovation Grant Program

• Creates a one-time competitive grant program through the Department of Education to address public school transportation shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with grantees having 2 years to spend awarded funds.

• Eligible applicants include school districts, charter schools, boards of cooperative services, consortiums, tribal governments, local governments, and community organizations partnering with schools to serve students of color and underresourced communities disproportionately impacted by transportation shortages.

• Grantees may use funds for innovative solutions including bus driver incentives, parent carpool programs, route efficiency analysis, transit partnerships, and work-based learning transportation, with all strategies complying with state safety standards.

• Requires grantees to submit reports by August 1, 2024 and August 1, 2025 detailing implemented solutions, and mandates the Department submit summary reports to the legislature by August 30 of each year.

• Appropriates funding from the Revenue Loss Restoration Cash Fund, with the Department retaining up to 2 percent for administration, and the program repealing effective July 1, 2026.