SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) urged Gov. Jerry Brown to act quickly and sign SB 81, the bill to restore school transportation funding. Following the vote on the bill, Chesbro requested that the bill be fast-tracked in order for it to get to the governor as soon as possible. Shortly after the bill passed the Assembly this morning, it was heard and passed in both the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and then in the full Senate.
“I am grateful that many of my colleagues joined me in getting SB 81 passed so swiftly,” Chesbro said. “Quick passage of this bill is especially important because of the impacts on children and their educational opportunities. Many school districts in my area are considering laying off personnel and some have already sent out pink slips.”
SB 81 seeks to undo the trigger cut made by Gov. Jerry Brown that eliminates funding for the Home-to-School Transportation Program. SB 81 would replace the $248 million cut to the transportation program, which disproportionately impacts rural and low income students, with a much smaller, more equitable reduction which impacts all school districts in California.
Home to School Transportation is particularly important to rural schools on the North Coast, such as the Southern Humboldt Unified School District, where many students live long distances from their schools in communities that have no sidewalks or public transportation.
Cuts in transportation funding can cause a double hit on school districts’ budgets. Without SB 81, school districts would lose large chunks of transportation funding and then lose out on ADA funding due to students inability to get to school.
“I'm proud of the people who fought this inequitable cut,” said Jim Stewart, Superintendent of the Southern Humboldt Unified School District. “This is a great example for our students of democracy in action. I am also proud of Assemblyman Chesbro for rallying the state Legislature to work together in the effort to restore school transportation. Perhaps this can serve as a turning point in how California manages the people's business.”
“This is the survival of my community," Chesbro added. “The future of these communities depend on educating children and getting them to school.”
SB 81 is headed to the governor for his consideration and will go into effect immediately if it is signed.
Contact: Andrew Bird, communications director, (916) 319-2001
