TOPEKA, Kan. — School bus drivers and their allies from across Kansas are visiting with lawmakers in Topeka on Feb. 17 to make the case for the importance of extending unemployment insurance benefits to school bus drivers who are employed by private companies.
Currently, Kansas is one of the only states in the region where privatized school bus drivers are not eligible to collect unemployment benefits, despite their employers paying into the system, said Teamster officials.
According to Teamsters Local 696, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is supportive of the bill and was scheduled to meet with the drivers before they begin their all-day meetings.
The legislation, which is also backed by many private school bus companies, is HB 2315. The bill is currently with the Kansas House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development.
