Local educational agencies: home-to-school transportation: transportation network companies: driver requirements.

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state and authorizes local educational agencies throughout the state to operate schools, provide instruction, and provide home-to-school transportation to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The Passenger Charter-party Carriers' Act defines a transportation network company as an organization, whether a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietor, or other form, operating in California that provides prearranged transportation services for compensation using an online-enabled platform to connect passengers with drivers using a personal vehicle. Existing law requires a transportation network company to comply with specific requirements for liability insurance coverage, background checks, and other regulatory matters applicable to transportation network companies and their participating drivers, as defined. A violation of the act is a crime. If a local educational agency elects to have a transportation network company provide home-to-school transportation pursuant to a contract entered into on or after January 1, 2021, this bill would require the local educational agency to ensure that the contract is in compliance with established standards for the use of personal services contracts in school districts for all services currently or customarily performed by classified school employees to achieve cost savings and that the transportation network company's drivers meet all of the same requirements that apply to school bus drivers.