Schoolbuses: retrofit and replacement.

Existing law establishes various programs for the reduction of vehicular air pollution, including the Lower-Emission School Bus Program adopted by the State Air Resources Board. The Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006, approved by the voters as Proposition 1B at the November 7, 2006, general election, authorizes the issuance of $19.925 billion of general obligation bonds for specified purposes, including $200 million for schoolbus retrofit and replacement purposes. Existing law requires the state board to allocate those bond moneys for the schoolbus retrofit and replacement program to air pollution control and air quality management districts by prioritizing the retrofit or replacement of the most polluting schoolbuses in small air districts first and then medium air districts, as specified. Existing law requires each allocation to provide sufficient funding for at least one project to be implemented as part of the Lower-Emission School Bus Program. This bill instead would require the state board to prioritize the retrofit or replacement of the most polluting and oldest schoolbuses that operate in air districts that are designated federal extreme nonattainment, followed by small air districts, and then medium air districts, as specified.