NC S305

Establishes the Smart School Bus Safety Pilot Program beginning in 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 17 specific North Carolina school districts to participate, including Caldwell County, Gaston County, Johnston County, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, with the option for local boards to decline and be replaced by districts with similar student populations.

Requires participating vendors to provide technology meeting 10 minimum standards including GPS tracking, turn-by-turn navigation, employee and student tracking, contact tracing capability, vehicle inspections, and Medicaid reimbursement facilitation.

Appropriates $11,039,330 in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, distributed to the 17 participating districts with allocations ranging from $50,076 to $1,517,406 per district.

Mandates annual reporting by July 1, 2022, and thereafter to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee detailing vendor information, services provided, program expenditures, and program effectiveness; all hardware becomes district property at program conclusion.