WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 359

reasonably may require additional expenses to guarantee adequate
transportation during the regular school year.

(2) In addition to providing advice to the Motor
Vehicle Administration under § 25-110 of the Transportation
Article regarding the adoption by the Administration of rules and
regulations relating to the safe operation of school vehicles,
including vehicles and equipment appropriate for transporting
handicapped children, the Department shall adopt guidelines which
set minimum standards 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.

(d)  (1) By July 1 of each year any county that has 25 or
more handicapped children attending Level V nonpublic education
facilities shall submit to the State 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 Department adopted guidelines for the
transportation of handicapped children to Level V nonpublic
special education facilities.

(2) The State 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 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 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)  Recognize the need for flexibility on an
individual client basis.

- 1959 -