2570.  It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this
chapter, that the public be provided additional protection through
the licensing of private schoolbus contractors transporting school
pupils under contracts with school districts, and that the Department
of the California Highway Patrol be authorized to inspect and
license the contractors described in subdivision (a), giving special
attention directed to negligent operators or repeat violators.



2571.  Every private schoolbus contractor who contracts with a
school district for the transportation of school pupils shall be
licensed in accordance with regulations adopted by the commissioner.
The license fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100) for an initial
license and seventy-five dollars ($75) for each annual renewal.




2572.  (a) The commissioner may adopt whatever regulations are
necessary to administer this chapter.  The regulations shall be
consistent with regulations regarding schoolbuses and schoolbus
drivers adopted by the commissioner pursuant to other provisions of
law.
   (b) In addition to any other requirements, it is unlawful for the
private schoolbus contractor or the person who directs the driver to
operate a vehicle transporting school pupils, when that
transportation requires a license, to knowingly cause the operation
of the vehicle unless the private schoolbus contractor holds a valid
license for the transportation of school pupils.  A violation of this
subdivision shall be punished by a fine of not more than two
thousand dollars ($2,000).



2573.  (a) The commissioner may temporarily suspend a license to
transport school pupils under contract with a school district,
subject to a hearing conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with
Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government
Code, when, in the commissioner's opinion, the action is necessary to
prevent an imminent and substantial danger to the public health.
   (b) The commissioner may, following a hearing, suspend a license
to transport school pupils under contract with a school district, for
a period of at least 30 days but not more than 90 days, if the
holder of the license knowingly permits the transportation of school
pupils by a person who does not possess the appropriate driver's
license and driver's certificate.
   (c) The suspensions authorized pursuant to subdivisions (a) and
(b) may, at the discretion of the commissioner, be enforced for all
operations of a schoolbus contractor, or for the operations of the
contractor in the school district in which the alleged violations
occurred, or for the operations of the contractor in the contractor's
terminal in which the alleged violations occurred.
   (d) The commissioner shall provide notification of a suspension
hearing to those school districts whose terminals would be affected
by the suspension.



2574.  (a) All fees collected by the Department of the California
Highway Patrol pursuant to the issuance or renewal of a license for
the transportation of school pupils under contract with a school
district shall be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Account of the State
Transportation Fund.
   (b) All moneys collected from these fees shall be used for the
support of the licensing program of the department upon appropriation
therefor by the Legislature.



2575.  The Department of the California Highway Patrol shall submit
a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 1993, concerning
the implementation of the licensing and inspection program under this
chapter, including, but not limited to, the amount collected for
license fees and the nature of the violations charged.