HB 674

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  H. B. No. 674
       2025-2026
  Representative Miller, K.
  To amend sections 3319.316 and 4511.76 and to enact  1
  sections 3327.103, 4925.11, 4925.12, 4925.13,  2
  and 4925.14 of the Revised Code to authorize a  3
  public or private school to transport students  4
  using a transportation network company.  5
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That sections 3319.316 and 4511.76 be amended  6
and sections 3327.103, 4925.11, 4925.12, 4925.13, and 4925.14 of  7
the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:  8
     Sec. 3319.316. The state board of education shall be a  9
participating public office for purposes of the retained  10
applicant fingerprint database established under section  11
109.5721 of the Revised Code and shall receive notification from  12
the bureau of criminal identification and investigation of the  13
arrest or conviction of the following persons:  14
     (A) Persons to whom the state board has issued a license,  15
as defined in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code;  16
     (B) On behalf of employers described in section 3319.391  17
or 3327.10 of the Revised Code or a transportation network  18
company under section 3327.103 of the Revised Code, persons who  19
are not required to hold a license issued by the state board and  20
H. B. No. 674  Page 2
As Introduced
are employed in or contracted for a position that the district,  21
service center, or school reasonably determines may involve  22
routine interaction with a child or regular responsibility for  23
the care, custody, or control of a child, including persons who  24
operate a school bus or motor van. Notwithstanding anything to  25
the contrary in division (E) of section 109.5721 of the Revised  26
Code, the state board is authorized to and promptly shall  27
transmit any notification received regarding a person under this  28
division to the person's employer or the transportation network  29
company, as applicable.  30
        Sec. 3327.103. (A) In addition to any other applicable  31
requirement specified in Chapter 4925. of the Revised Code, a  32
transportation network company providing services under a  33
contract entered into under section 4925.12 of the Revised Code  34
shall do all of the following:  35
        (1) Request a criminal records check prior to authorizing  36
the transportation network company driver to provide pupil  37
transportation services under the contract in accordance with  38
the procedures specified under divisions (J)(2), (3), and (4) of  39
section 3327.10 of the Revised Code, in addition to the  40
background checks required by section 4925.04 of the Revised  41
Code;  42
        (2) Obtain the complete driving record for each  43
transportation network company driver who is providing pupil  44
transportation under the contract. A transportation network  45
company shall obtain the transportation network company driver's  46
record prior to authorizing that driver to provide pupil  47
transportation services. Thereafter, the transportation network  48
company shall obtain the transportation network company driver's  49
driving record not less than semiannually while the driver is  50
H. B. No. 674  Page 3
As Introduced
authorized to provide pupil transportation services under the  51
contract.  52
       (3) Ensure that all of the following apply to the  53
operation and condition of a motor vehicle that is used by an  54
authorized transportation network company driver for pupil  55
transportation under the contract:  56
       (a) A qualified mechanic inspects the motor vehicle not  57
less than once annually to determine that it is safe for pupil  58
transportation.  59
       (b) If a motor vehicle is determined to be unsafe for  60
pupil transportation, the motor vehicle is not operated for such  61
use until it is repaired and determined safe for pupil  62
transportation.  63
       (c) The driver of the motor vehicle does not stop on the  64
roadway to load or unload passengers.  65
       (d) The driver of the motor vehicle is accustomed to  66
operating that particular make and model of motor vehicle.  67
       (e) The motor vehicle transports not more than ten  68
individuals at one time, including the driver.  69
       (f) The driver and all passengers occupying the motor  70
vehicle comply with the requirements of sections 4511.81 and  71
4513.263 of the Revised Code, as applicable.  72
       (B) No transportation network company providing services  73
under a contract entered into under section 4925.12 of the  74
Revised Code shall authorize any transportation network company  75
driver to provide pupil transportation services under the  76
contract if that driver has been convicted of or pleaded guilty  77
to a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code, or a  78
H. B. No. 674  Page 4
As Introduced
substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, within the prior  79
ten years.  80
       Sec. 4511.76. (A) The department of public safety, by and  81
with the advice of the department of education and workforce,  82
shall adopt and enforce rules relating to the construction,  83
design, and equipment, including lighting equipment required by  84
section 4511.771 of the Revised Code, of all school buses both  85
publicly and privately owned and operated in this state.  86
       (B) The department of education and workforce, by and with  87
the advice of the director of public safety, shall adopt and  88
enforce rules relating to the operation of all vehicles used for  89
pupil transportation.  90
       (C) No (C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of  91
this section, no person shall operate a vehicle used for pupil  92
transportation within this state in violation of the rules of  93
the department of education and workforce or the department of  94
public safety. No person, being the owner thereof or having the  95
supervisory responsibility therefor, shall permit the operation  96
of a vehicle used for pupil transportation within this state in  97
violation of the rules of the department of education and  98
workforce or the department of public safety.  99
       (2) Division (C)(1) of this section does not apply to a  100
transportation network company driver providing services under a  101
contract between a transportation network company and a board of  102
education of a school district or governing authority of a  103
chartered nonpublic school or other public school in accordance  104
with sections 4925.11 to 4925.14 of the Revised Code.  105
       (D) The department of public safety shall adopt and  106
enforce rules relating to the issuance of a license under  107
H. B. No. 674  Page 5
As Introduced
section 4511.763 of the Revised Code. The rules may relate to  108
the condition of the equipment to be operated; the liability and  109
property damage insurance carried by the applicant; the posting  110
of satisfactory and sufficient bond; and such other rules as the  111
director of public safety determines reasonably necessary for  112
the safety of the pupils to be transported.  113
       (E) A chartered nonpublic school or a community school may  114
own and operate, or contract with a vendor that supplies,  115
alternative vehicles to transport students to and from regularly  116
scheduled school sessions, school-related activities, and  117
school-sanctioned events when one of the following applies:  118
       (1) A student's school district of residence has declared  119
the transportation of the student impractical pursuant to  120
section 3327.02 of the Revised Code;  121
       (2) A student does not live within thirty minutes of the  122
chartered nonpublic school or the community school, as  123
applicable, and the student's school district is not required to  124
transport the student under section 3327.01 of the Revised Code;  125
       (3) The governing authority of the chartered nonpublic  126
school or the community school has offered to provide the  127
transportation for its students in lieu of the students being  128
transported by their school district of residence.  129
       (F) A school district may own and operate, or contract  130
with a vendor that supplies, alternative vehicles to transport  131
students to and from regularly scheduled school sessions,  132
school-related activities, and school-sanctioned events.  133
       (G) A school district or the governing authority of a  134
chartered nonpublic school or community school that uses an  135
alternative vehicle in accordance with division (E) or (F) of  136
H. B. No. 674  Page 6
As Introduced
this section, shall ensure that all of the following apply to  137
the operation of that vehicle:  138
       (1) A qualified mechanic inspects the vehicle not fewer  139
than two times each year and determines that it is safe for  140
pupil transportation;  141
       (2) The driver of the vehicle does not stop on the roadway  142
to load or unload passengers;  143
       (3) The driver of the vehicle meets the requirements  144
specified for a driver of a school bus or motor van under  145
section 3327.10 of the Revised Code and any corresponding rules  146
adopted by the department of education and workforce.  147
Notwithstanding that section or any department rules to the  148
contrary, the driver is not required to have a commercial  149
driver's license but shall have a current, valid driver's  150
license, and shall be accustomed to operating the vehicle used  151
to transport the students.  152
       (4) The driver and all passengers in the vehicle comply  153
with the requirements of sections 4511.81 and 4513.263 of the  154
Revised Code, as applicable.  155
       (H)(1) A school district, a chartered nonpublic school, or  156
a community school may own and operate, or contract with a  157
vendor that supplies, a multifunction school activity bus to  158
transport students between school and school functions or  159
activities.  160
       (2) A multifunction school activity bus shall not be used  161
to transport students between school and home or between school  162
and designated school bus stops.  163
       (I) As used in this section:  164
H. B. No. 674  Page 7
As Introduced
       (1) "Alternative vehicle" means a motor vehicle originally  165
manufactured and designed for not more than twelve passengers,  166
not including the driver.  167
       (2) "Vehicle used for pupil transportation" means any  168
vehicle that is identified as such by the department of  169
education and workforce by rule and that is subject to Chapter  170
3301-83 of the Administrative Code.  171
       (J) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever  172
violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the  173
offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to  174
one or more violations of this section or section 4511.63,  175
4511.761, 4511.762, 4511.764, 4511.77, or 4511.79 of the Revised  176
Code or a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to  177
any of those sections, whoever violates this section is guilty  178
of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.  179
       Sec. 4925.11. As used in sections 4925.11 to 4925.14 of  180
the Revised Code:  181
       (A) "Other public school" means a community school  182
established under Chapter 3314., a STEM school established under  183
Chapter 3326., or a college-preparatory boarding school  184
established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code.  185
       (B) "Parent" or "legal guardian" means a natural parent,  186
adoptive parent, or legal guardian of a student.  187
       (C) "School district" means a city, local, exempted  188
village, or joint vocational school district or an educational  189
service center.  190
       (D) "School-related activities" means any activities  191
sponsored by a school district, chartered nonpublic school, or  192
other public school including extracurricular activities, field  193
H. B. No. 674  Page 8
As Introduced
trips, or athletic events.  194
       (E) "Pupil" means any child enrolled in kindergarten  195
through twelfth grade at a school district, chartered nonpublic  196
school, or other public school.  197
       Sec. 4925.12. (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of  198
the Revised Code concerning pupil transportation, a board of  199
education of a school district or governing authority of a  200
chartered nonpublic school or other public school may contract  201
with a transportation network company to provide pupil  202
transportation to and from school or school-related activities.  203
       (B) A contract between a transportation network company  204
and a board of education of a school district or governing  205
authority of a chartered nonpublic school or other public  206
school, along with provisions in this chapter, shall govern the  207
services provided pursuant to this section.  208
       (C) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter and in  209
section 3327.103 of the Revised Code, all rules and regulations  210
of the department of education and workforce or any other state  211
agency concerning the transportation of pupils, including  212
Chapter 3327. of the Revised Code, shall not apply to a  213
transportation network company and a transportation network  214
company driver providing services under a contract authorized by  215
this section.  216
       Sec. 4925.13. (A) A transportation network company  217
providing services under a contract entered into under section  218
4925.12 of the Revised Code shall do all of the following:  219
       (1) Require the transportation network company drivers  220
providing pupil transportation services under the contract to  221
comply with the transportation network company driver  222
H. B. No. 674  Page 9
As Introduced
requirements of this chapter;  223
       (2) Require the transportation network company drivers  224
providing pupil transportation services under the contract to  225
comply with any additional safety-related driver qualifications  226
or criminal records checks imposed under the contract;  227
       (3) Comply with all other requirements of this chapter and  228
section 3327.103 of the Revised Code.  229
       (B) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit  230
the authority of a transportation network company, at its  231
discretion, to impose any additional safety-related driver  232
qualifications or vehicle standards that exceed the  233
qualifications and standards set forth in this chapter or set  234
forth in any contract entered into under section 4925.12 of the  235
Revised Code. Furthermore, nothing in this chapter shall be  236
construed to limit the authority of a transportation network  237
company, at its discretion, to conduct criminal records checks  238
and to deny, suspend, or terminate the authorization of any  239
driver performing services under a contract entered into under  240
section 4925.12 of the Revised Code, to the extent such actions  241
exceed what is required by this chapter or by any contract  242
entered into under that section.  243
       Sec. 4925.14. A transportation network company providing  244
services pursuant to a contract entered into under section  245
4925.12 of the Revised Code shall, for each trip, provide the  246
parent or legal guardian of a student with access to all of the  247
following:  248
       (A) Real-time status updates of the trip, including  249
confirmation of driver arrival, student pickup, and student  250
drop-off;  251
H. B. No. 674  Page 10
As Introduced
       (B) Real-time global positioning system tracking  252
throughout the duration of the trip;  253
       (C) The ability to directly contact the assigned driver  254
during the trip, through an anonymized in-app communication  255
feature or call forwarding system;  256
       (D) A picture of the driver and the make, model, and  257
license plate number of the vehicle used by the driver.  258
       Section 2. That existing sections 3319.316 and 4511.76 of  259
the Revised Code are hereby repealed.  260