The same bill which seeks to end the debate over school bus fees also includes an incentive to schools to keep buses maintained.

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Indianapolis Representative Mike Speedy maintains schools could save money by conducting fluid analysis of their bus fleets. He argues the testing would save money by limiting oil changes to when they're really needed, and by extending buses' overall lifespan.

Speedy's proposal would try to coax schools to do it by letting them use any savings in their bus replacement funds for general expenses.

Speedy says the Fort Wayne and Plainfield school districts already do fluid analysis.

The proposal has passed the Senate Education Committee but must win approval from the Appropriations Committee before going to the full Senate.

The bill would also make clear schools can't get around a ban on charging fees for bus service by using the district's Educational Service Center to do it. Parents in Franklin Township are suing the school system for doing exactly that.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller has issued an opinion concluding the fee is unconstitutional even under current law.