Alternative methods of providing pupil transportation services, the official text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-5372/1
KMS:klm

2025 SENATE BILL 699
December 2, 2025 - Introduced by Senators LeMahieu, Marklein and Nass, cosponsored by Representatives Brill, Behnke, Dittrich, Goeben, Gundrum, Kitchens, Knodl, Kreibich, Melotik, Murphy, Penterman, Piwowarczyk and Wichgers. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

An Act to amend 121.555 (1) (a), 121.555 (1) (b) and 121.555 (2) (a) of the statutes; relating to: alternative methods of providing pupil transportation services.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a school board or the governing body of a private school may provide pupil transportation services using vehicles other than school buses that fall into one of the following categories: 1) a motor vehicle transporting nine or fewer passengers in addition to the operator; or 2) when, at the request of the school board or governing body, the secretary of transportation determines that an emergency exists because no regular transportation is available, a motor vehicle transporting 10 or more passengers in addition to the operator. This bill increases the number of passengers who may be transported absent an emergency from nine to 14 and increases those who may be transported in an emergency from 10 or more to 15 or more.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. 121.555 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.555 (1) (a) A motor vehicle transporting 9 14 or less fewer passengers in addition to the operator.
Section 2. 121.555 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.555 (1) (b) A motor vehicle transporting 10 15 or more passengers in addition to the operator and used temporarily to provide transportation for purposes specified under s. 340.01 (56) (a) when the school board or the governing body requests the secretary of transportation to determine that an emergency exists because no regular transportation is available. The secretary of transportation shall approve or deny the request in writing. Any authorization granted under this paragraph shall specify the purpose and need for the emergency transportation service.
Section 3. 121.555 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.555 (2) (a) Insurance. If the vehicle is owned or leased by a school or a school bus contractor, or is a vehicle authorized under sub. (1) (b), it shall comply with s. 121.53. If the vehicle is transporting 9 14 or fewer persons in addition to the operator and is not owned or leased by a school or by a school bus contractor, it shall be insured by a policy providing property damage coverage with a limit of not less than $10,000 and bodily injury liability coverage with limits of not less than $25,000 for each person, and, subject to the limit for each person, a total limit of not less than $50,000 for each accident.
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