[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6596 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6596

To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a school bus 
                     emergency fuel grant program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2008

Mr. McNerney (for himself and Mr. Space) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a school bus 
                     emergency fuel grant program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Gas Price Relief for Schools Act of 
2008''.

SEC. 2. SCHOOL BUS EMERGENCY FUEL GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) General Authority.--The Secretary of Transportation may make 
grants to eligible recipients to assist the recipients in offsetting 
increases in school bus transportation operating costs attributable to 
higher fuel prices.
    (b) Applications.--An eligible recipient seeking a grant under this 
section shall submit to the Secretary an application that is in such 
form and contains such information as the Secretary may require.
    (c) Criteria for Awarding Grants.--
            (1) In general.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall consider the extent to which an eligible 
        recipient has been adversely affected by increases in fuel 
        costs in providing school bus transportation.
            (2) Factors.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary, 
        at minimum, shall consider--
                    (A) whether a public school system served by the 
                eligible recipient has implemented cuts to school bus 
                transportation services as a result of increased school 
                bus transportation fuel costs;
                    (B) whether a public school system served by the 
                eligible recipient has implemented changes or cuts in 
                school operations, such as a shorter school week, as a 
                result of increased school bus transportation fuel 
                costs; and
                    (C) the distances traveled by school buses operated 
                by the eligible recipient, particularly for public 
                school systems located in rural areas where school 
                buses travel greater distances to transport students.
    (d) Grant Allocations.--
            (1) Solicitation of applicants.--The Secretary shall 
        conduct a national solicitation for applications for grants 
        under this section.
            (2) Geographic distribution.--To the maximum extent 
        practicable, the Secretary shall ensure a broad geographic 
        distribution of grant awards under this section.
            (3) Distribution among states.--Not to exceed 5 percent of 
        the grants funds awarded under this section in a fiscal year 
        may be awarded to eligible recipients in any State.
    (e) Suballocations to Private Entities.--An eligible recipient that 
receives a grant under this section may allocate all or any portion of 
the amounts provided under the grant to a private entity providing 
school bus transportation to a public school system for the eligible 
recipient on a contract basis.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient'' 
        means a unit of State or local government responsible for 
        providing school bus transportation to a public school system.
            (2) School bus transportation.--The term ``school bus 
        transportation'' means the transportation of preprimary, 
        primary, or secondary students of a public school system to or 
        from school or an event related to school by a school bus or 
        multifunction school activity bus.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section such sums as 
may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009. Such sums 
shall remain available until expended .
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