Legal Focus

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., passed in 1988, requires employers to provide employees with advanced notice of mass layoffs or plant closings. The advanced notice requirement is intended to help displaced workers find new employment, and there are significant penalties against employers for non-compliance. But, the notice requirements could be triggered in situations where a school district changes from one contractor to another. This...

Many Pennsylvania contractors are paid based on “the formula”. But Contractors are often unsure exactly what that means or how the payment according to the formula is calculated. This article is intended to explain the basic elements of “the formula” as a starting point for contractors who want to better understand this critical part of their transportation contract.Click Here to Read More

School transportation contractors across the country advocated vigorously for economic relief specifically tailored to their industry. To address these concerns, Congress included The Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act (CERTS) as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, Subtitle B, Sec. 420, which was enacted into law on December 2021. CERTS makes available $2 billion in funds for grants to eligible school bus companies, motor coach companies, passeng...

The implementation of paid sick leave laws by states, cities, and counties is a fast growing trend across the country, and many employers who operate in areas that adopt these laws may potentially be affected. This article discusses what paid sick leave laws are and highlights certain laws that have been introduced and/or passed in Pennsylvania.

For many contractors this spring is the first time since the COVID-19 school shutdowns began, that they will be preparing proposals or bids for transportation contracts. This article will discuss different post-COVID considerations and strategies.

As school transportation contractors enter into bid season, it is in the interest of the contractor to price competitively; however, contractors should be careful to consider the possibility of changes to their operational costs during the term of the contract. Currently, there is much discussion at the state and federal level on laws that could affect costs for transportation contractors, such as laws related to changes in infrastructure and school bus safety equipment. In the event that such c...

Across the nation, numerous school transportation contractors continue to experience the financial strain caused by school closures due to the coronavirus. The sudden elimination of in-person school days during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years has driven many school districts to refuse to pay their transportation contractors, citing that because no driving occurred, there is no service to pay for. However, even when no driving is performed, transportation contractors continue to provide ...