HB 16

STUDENT PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION GRANT PROGRAM This bill requires the department of transportation ("department"") to establish and administer a student pedestrian protec tion grant program (""program""). The purpose of the program is to provide grants to local governments to be used solely for designing, constructing, and repairing or replacing sidewalk infrastructure around public schools in this state. FUNDING This bil l creates a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the student pedestrian protection grant fund. The fund is composed of (i) funds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund; and (ii) gifts, grants, and other donations received by th e department for the fund. GRANTS This bill requires the department, subject to the availability of funds, to allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year to local governments. The grants must be awarded on a competitive basis. The commissioner of tra nsportation (""commissioner"") must propose the annual recurring budget of the program and establish the selection criteria for awarding grants. This bill prohibits the funds from being obligated or expended under the program unless the local government ag r ees to match the proposed expenditures in an amount established by the commissioner. The commissioner must determine whether all, or a portion, of the required match may be provided by in-kind project work approved by the commissioner. REPORT This bi ll requires each recipient of grant funds to provide a quarterly report to the department detailing the progress on use of the funds and a final report once all of the grant funds have been expended. On or before October 1 in any year during which the de p artment has allocated and dispersed funds pursuant to this bill, the department must prepare a report to the general assembly regarding the funds received and payments made by the fund. RULEMAKING This bill authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rule s to effectuate this bill. ON MARCH 31, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 141, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:  Requires, b efore funds may be appropriated by the general assembly for the student pedestrian protection grant fund, the general assembly to authorize the appropriation of such funds by means of a separate joint resolution.  Removes the requirement that the commissioner propose the annual recurring budget of the program.  Requires the department to submit a report to the general assembly regarding the funds received and payments made by the fund by October 1 of each year regardless of whether the department has allocated and dispersed funds in the year of the report."