Section 071-84-5 - Minimum Program Procedures1.SAU ApplicationA. School bus refurbishment requests open annually on November 1 and remain open until the program budget is depleted for that fiscal year.B. Requests for school bus refurbishment services are initiated when a SAU submits a school bus refurbishment application to the Department. A contract is required to begin refurbishment services. 2.State ContractA. The SAU superintendent shall sign a Maine Military Authority School Bus Refurbishment Program service contract in order to initiate a refurbishment contract.3.State ApprovalA. Approval for school bus refurbishment services shall be based on eligibility requirements established by the Commissioner, including, but not limited to, the age, mileage and expected useful life of the school bus.B. A School Bus Refurbishment Program contract, submitted to the Department and signed by the Department transportation administrator, provides program approval to a SAU.4.Refurbishment ServicesA. Maine Military Authority shall complete school bus refurbishment service contract work, in order for a SAU to receive state subsidy.B. Maine Military Authority shall work with the SAU to schedule refurbishment services and delivery.C. School bus refurbishment repairs shall be equal to or greater than Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for school buses.5.State Subsidy for Approved School Bus RefurbishmentsA. State subsidy occurs the fiscal year after the SAU pays Maine Military Authority for the school bus refurbishment service according to 20-A M.R.S. § 15689(13).B.Subsidy amounts(1) The minimum subsidy amount is thirty percent of the base school bus refurbishment price. (a) If the state share percentage for a SAU is less than thirty percent, the SAU will receive the minimum amount of thirty percent of the base school bus refurbishment price.(2) The maximum subsidy amount is seventy percent of the base school bus refurbishment price. (a) If the state share percentage for a SAU is more than seventy percent, the SAU will receive the maximum amount of seventy percent of the base school bus refurbishment price. (3) SAUs with state share percentage between thirty and seventy percent will receive that percentage of the base school bus refurbishment price.6.School Bus Maintenance RecordsA. SAUs that participate in the School Bus Refurbishment Program shall track the maintenance records of refurbished school buses using the State provided School Transportation Operations Program software maintenance module for the remaining life of the refurbished school bus.05- 071 C.M.R. ch. 84, § 5