NC H256

Establishes the Smart School Bus Safety Pilot Program beginning with the 2021-2022 school year and ending on or before January 1, 2025, to modernize student transportation through technology in response to COVID-19.

Authorizes 21 specified local school administrative units to participate, with vendor selection exempt from standard procurement requirements; units may elect not to participate and be replaced by similar-sized districts.

Requires technology and services to meet 10 minimum standards including GPS tracking, turn-by-turn navigation, employee and student tracking, COVID-19 contact tracing, vehicle inspections, and parent access to information.

Appropriates $13,752,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, with allocations ranging from $51,000 to $1,650,000 distributed among the participating school systems.

Requires the Department of Public Instruction to submit annual reports to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee detailing hardware and software provided, vendor information, program effectiveness, and all state expenditures.