Kentucky House passes legislation aimed at curbing unruliness on school buses

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky House passed a bill Friday aimed at curbing unruliness on school buses by requiring student and parental buy-in to transportation policies and setting clear consequences for misbehavior.

The measure sailed through the House on a 93-1 vote to advance to the Senate. Supporters said the goal is to offer relief to beleaguered bus drivers by setting expectations for students and parents.

Misbehavor on school buses was termed a statewide issue, but the House discussion focused on Kentucky’s largest school system, in Louisville. In November the district was forced to cancel nearly 100 routes after bus drivers organized a sickout and 143 called off work, with student behavior cited as among their biggest concerns, the Courier Journal of Louisville reported.

Setting accountability is crucial to getting the problem under control, Republican Rep. Kevin Bratcher said.

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“Accountability — what happens when you get so far out of line that you’re stopping a school bus from operating,” he said. “You’re