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SALT LAKE CITY — Schoolchildren and clean air advocacy groups rallied Thursday in the rotunda at the Utah Capitol, urging support for a measure that would replace nearly 200 of the worst polluting school buses in the state's fleet.
The event urged passage of HB49, sponsored by Rep. Steve Handy, R-Layton, a measure that has already received a thumbs up from one committee.
His bill now awaits action in the Utah House. It calls for $20 million in one-time money to replace school buses older than 2002 models and mandates that the buses not be sold, but destroyed and replaced with natural gas burning vehicles.
This is the second year Handy has run the measure, which has also received a nod from Gov. Gary Herbert in his fiscal-year 2015 budget recommendations.
Under provisions in the bill, $13 million of the funding would replace buses and be met by matches from local school districts, and the rest would augment refueling options.
Utah has been recognized as having the most aggressive diesel retrofit program in the country, having changed out 1,041 buses in the fleet. Handy's bill would target 170 of the worst polluting buses.
Studies have shown that diesel emissions circulate into the bus, causing an array of health implications for children.
After the event, Handy said he is encouraged so far with the support for the measure.
"(HB49) is moving through the process and gaining support, especially on the funding side," he said. "If we do this, the Legislature will be taking a big step forward that we are taking significant steps toward clean air and the health and safety of schoolchildren." Email: amyjoi@deseretnews.com Twitter: amyjoi16
