129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 19		LR 3(02)
	An Act To Require Public School Buses To Be Equipped with School Bus Crossing Arms
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Transportation
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund Potential future biennium cost increase - Local school administrative units
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Requiring all school buses with a model year of 2021 or newer be equipped with a school bus crossing arm may result in future increased costs to local school administrative units (SAU's) that purchase the newer model buses and to the State for increased subsidy amounts paid to local SAU's approved to purchase a bus through the School Bus Purchase Program.
	According to the Department of Education, purchasing a school bus with a school bus crossing arm may increase the total cost of a school bus by as much as $700 per bus. SAU's that are approved to purchase a new school bus through the School Bus Purchase Program receive funding from the State as part of their total subsidy to partially offset the cost of the new bus.  The amount of subsidy is a set amount that is determined by the Office of Procurement Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and is based on bids from vendors that meet the minimum state specifications for school buses.  This fiscal note assumes that the additional cost of crossing arms will be added to the subsidy amounts provided by the State.  Those local SAU's that purchase buses outside of the School Bus Purchase Program will be responsible for 100% of the additional cost.