SB202 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul Bussman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Education, school buses, 12-year depreciation schedule for, Sec. 16-13-233 am'd.
Summary: SB 202 would create a depreciation-based funding schedule for school buses, capped at 200,000 miles and limited to newer buses, to support fleet renewal.
What This Bill Does
It amends how transportation funds are allocated by establishing a depreciation schedule for school buses with a maximum of 200,000 miles. Depreciation funds must be placed in a restricted local fund dedicated to fleet renewal and may not be used for operating costs, carrying forward each year. The mechanism only applies to buses that are 10 years old or newer and have less than 200,000 miles as of the act’s effective date, and the State Board of Education will set rules, including minimum per-bus allocations and safety standards; 70% of the per-bus renewal allocation goes to paid-off buses, with any excess reverting to the Education Trust Fund. A waiver to the two-mile transportation limit can be granted for safety reasons, and the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects
Local boards of education (LEAs) – receive transportation funding that includes depreciation for fleet renewal, must set aside depreciation funds in a restricted fleet renewal account, and use them only for fleet renewal (not operations). They must ensure buses meet minimum standards and manage the funds over time.
State Board of Education / Alabama State Department of Education – determine per-pupil costs, adopt rules to implement the depreciation schedule, adjust fleet renewal allowances, set funding ratios, and handle safety waivers related to bus transportation.

Key Provisions
Depreciation funding for school buses is established with a maximum of 200,000 travel miles, using a schedule fixed by the State Board of Education.
Depreciation funds must be placed in a restricted local fund for fleet renewal and cannot be used for operating costs; funds carry forward year to year and do not revert to the Education Trust Fund.
The act applies only to buses that are 10 years old or newer and have less than 200,000 travel miles as of the act’s effective date.
70% of the per-bus fleet renewal allocation applies to any bus that is paid off; excess fleet renewal funding reverts to the Education Trust Fund.
The State Board of Education must adopt rules to implement the depreciation schedule.
Minimum per-bus state allocation must be at least the total fiscal year 2019 amount; allocations are based on ratios of pupils transported to total pupils, and districts must provide buses meeting minimum standards.
The two-mile limit for transporting students not living within two miles of a school may be waived by the State Superintendent for safety reasons.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: School Buses--Fleet Renewal