Article 7. Transportation Of School Pupils of California Vehicle Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 2.5. >> Article 7.

It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this chapter, that the public be provided additional protection through the licensing of private schoolbus contractors transporting school pupils under contracts with school districts, and that the Department of the California Highway Patrol be authorized to inspect and license the contractors described in subdivision (a), giving special attention directed to negligent operators or repeat violators.

Every private schoolbus contractor who contracts with a school district for the transportation of school pupils shall be licensed in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner. The license fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100) for an initial license and seventy-five dollars ($75) for each annual renewal.

(a) The commissioner may adopt whatever regulations are necessary to administer this chapter. The regulations shall be consistent with regulations regarding schoolbuses and schoolbus drivers adopted by the commissioner pursuant to other provisions of law.
  (b) In addition to any other requirements, it is unlawful for the private schoolbus contractor or the person who directs the driver to operate a vehicle transporting school pupils, when that transportation requires a license, to knowingly cause the operation of the vehicle unless the private schoolbus contractor holds a valid license for the transportation of school pupils. A violation of this subdivision shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000).

(a) The commissioner may temporarily suspend a license to transport school pupils under contract with a school district, subject to a hearing conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, when, in the commissioner's opinion, the action is necessary to prevent an imminent and substantial danger to the public health.
  (b) The commissioner may, following a hearing, suspend a license to transport school pupils under contract with a school district, for a period of at least 30 days but not more than 90 days, if the holder of the license knowingly permits the transportation of school pupils by a person who does not possess the appropriate driver's license and driver's certificate.
  (c) The suspensions authorized pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) may, at the discretion of the commissioner, be enforced for all operations of a schoolbus contractor, or for the operations of the contractor in the school district in which the alleged violations occurred, or for the operations of the contractor in the contractor's terminal in which the alleged violations occurred.
  (d) The commissioner shall provide notification of a suspension hearing to those school districts whose terminals would be affected by the suspension.

(a) All fees collected by the Department of the California Highway Patrol pursuant to the issuance or renewal of a license for the transportation of school pupils under contract with a school district shall be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account of the State Transportation Fund.
  (b) All moneys collected from these fees shall be used for the support of the licensing program of the department upon appropriation therefor by the Legislature.