2772

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 519

INCLUDING VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT APPROPRIATE FOR TRANSPORTING
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, THE STATE BOARD DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT
GUIDELINES WHICH SET MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR EACH COUNTY TO MEET IN
ABB TO MEET IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

(I)  THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR HIRING AND TRAINING
OF DRIVERS AND AIDES, INCLUDING PRIVATE CONTRACT PERSONNEL,
INVOLVED IN HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING HANDICAPPED CHILDREN TO
LEVEL V NONPUBLIC SPECIAL EDUCATION FACILITIES; AND

(II)  THE APPROPRIATE LENGTH OF TIME AND
DISTANCE FOR TRANSPORTING HANDICAPPED CHILDREN TO LEVEL V
NONPUBLIC SPECIAL EDUCATION FACILITIES; AND.

(III) THE APPROPRIATENESS OF SAFETY SEATS,

FASTENERS, SAFETY BELTS, AND THE SAFETY OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES
USED FOR TRANSPORTING HANDICAPPED CHILDREN TO NONPUBLIC SPECIAL
EDUCATION FACILITIES.

(D)  (1) BY JULY 1 OF EACH YEAR EACH COUNTY ANY COUNTY THAT
HAS 25 OR MORE HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ATTENDING LEVEL V NONPUBLIC
EDUCATION FACILITIES SHALL SUBMIT TO THE STATE BOARD DEPARTMENT
A DETAILED REPORT, INCLUDING ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS IT HAS
ADOPTED SINCE THE SUBMISSION OF ITS LAST REPORT, WHICH OUTLINE
THE COUNTY'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE BOARD DEPARTMENT ADOPTED
GUIDELINES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN TO
LEVEL V NONPUBLIC SPECIAL EDUCATION FACILITIES.

(2) THE STATE BOARD DEPARTMENT SHALL ANNUALLY:

(I)  REVIEW EACH APPLICABLE COUNTY'S PLAN OR
PROCEDURES FOR TRANSPORTING HANDICAPPED CHILDREN TO LEVEL V
NONPUBLIC SPECIAL EDUCATION FACILITIES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE
STATE BOARD'S DEPARTMENT'S GUIDELINES; AND

(II)  ADVISE A COUNTY AS TO WHETHER ITS PLAN OR
PROCEDURES ARE IN COMPLIANCE.

(E)  IN BOTH THE ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES UNDER SUBSECTION
(C)(2) OF THIS SECTION AND THE ANNUAL REVIEW UNDER SUBSECTION (D)
OF THIS SECTION OF EACH APPLICABLE COUNTY'S PLAN OR PROCEDURES
FOR TRANSPORTING CHILDREN TO LEVEL V NONPUBLIC SPECIAL EDUCATION
FACILITIES, THE STATE BOARD DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(1)  TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE PARTICULAR
CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS OF EACH APPLICABLE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE
DIFFERENCES AMONG URBAN AND RURAL COUNTIES; AND

(2)  SHALL RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY ON AN
INDIVIDUAL CLIENT BASIS.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1984. It shall remain in effect for a period
of 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 1987, and with no further