(1) The board of education of a school district may furnish transportation:

(a) To and from public schools of the district for any reasonable classification of resident pupils enrolled in the schools of the district;

(b) To and from public schools located in an adjacent state for any reasonable classification of resident pupils who have not completed the twelfth grade, but only if the district of attendance is one to which the district of residence of such pupils is authorized to pay tuition for the attendance of such pupils;

(c) To and from public schools for any reasonable classification of pupils enrolled in the schools of the district who are residents of any other school district;

(d) To and from any school-sponsored activity, or for any emergency, for any reasonable classification of resident pupils enrolled in the schools of the district, whether said activity or emergency be within or without the territorial limits of the district, and whether or not occurring during school hours.

(1.5) The general assembly recognizes that section 2 of article IX of the state constitution requires the establishment and maintenance of a thorough and uniform system of free public schools and requires school districts to maintain such public schools. The general assembly finds and declares, however, that the provision by school districts of transportation for pupils is not required by the constitution as a part of a thorough and uniform system of free public schools and that any school district which provides transportation may pay the costs incurred in doing so through any means authorized by the general assembly pursuant to this title.

(2) A board may determine the points at which pupils shall be received and delivered and the routes of transportation pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.

(3) If it is impractical, as determined by the board, to furnish transportation to and from school for any resident pupil enrolled or eligible to be enrolled in the schools of the district pursuant to subsection (1)(a), (1)(b), or (1)(c) of this section, the board may pay the cost, or any portion thereof, of room and board for the pupil to reside at a point near a school of the district of residence, or a school of a district to which the district of residence is authorized to pay tuition.

(4) A board may reimburse a parent or guardian for the expenses incurred by such parent or guardian in furnishing transportation to and from a public school or designated school vehicle stop for his or her child or children and for other pupils enrolled in the schools of the district. The amount and payment of transportation expenses are determined by the board paying the expenses.

(5) (a) The board of education of a school district that furnishes transportation to pupils pursuant to the provisions of this section may impose and collect a fee for the payment of excess transportation costs pursuant to a fee schedule adopted by a resolution of the board of education of the district.

(a.5) Prior to adopting a resolution to collect a transportation fee pursuant to the provisions of this subsection (5), a school district board of education shall hold a public meeting to solicit and consider recommendations from, at a minimum, the school district accountability committee, or its equivalent within the school district, and from teachers, parents, and students, including but not limited to any statewide or local organization that represents parents, teachers, and students within the school district. The recommendations shall pertain both to the question of whether to impose the transportation fee and to the proposed fee schedule. The school district board of education shall provide public notice of the meeting at least thirty days prior to the meeting. At a meeting held subsequent to the meeting at which the school district board of education receives comments and recommendations, the district board may adopt a resolution to impose a transportation fee pursuant to this subsection (5). The school district board of education shall specifically take into account the recommendations received from the school district accountability committee, or its equivalent, and teachers, parents, and students when making the final determination of whether to impose a transportation fee pursuant to this subsection (5).

(a.6) In imposing a transportation fee on pupils pursuant to this subsection (5), the school district shall ensure that only those pupils who use the transportation services are required to pay the fee.

(a.7) A school district shall deposit any revenues received from the imposition of a fee pursuant to the provisions of this subsection (5) in the transportation fund of the district created in section 22-45-103 (1)(f).

(a.9) If a school district that imposes a transportation fee pursuant to this subsection (5) chooses to impose the transportation fee on students enrolled in charter schools of the school district, the school district, prior to imposing the transportation fee, shall consult with the parents of the students enrolled in the charter schools of the school district. If the school district chooses to include charter school students in the transportation fee, the school district shall ensure that the full amount of the transportation fee collected from students enrolled in charter schools is used to offset the costs of providing transportation services for charter school students.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection (5), "excess transportation costs" means the current operating expenditures for pupil transportation, as defined in section 22-51-102 (1), minus any reimbursement entitlement, as defined in section 22-51-102 (4). The calculation of excess transportation costs shall be based upon amounts expended and amounts received for the twelve-month period ending on June 30 prior to the adoption of the fee schedule.

(c) If a school district imposes a fee for the transportation of pupils, the district shall waive the fee for any pupil who is eligible for a reduced-cost meal or free meal pursuant to the "Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1751 et seq.