MUNSTER, Ind. (AP) — A state law is preventing Porter County Special Olympics from using school buses to transport its athletes.

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports Special Olympics coordinator Lorrie Woycik recently asked Valparaiso Community Schools to arrange to rent buses. School district and Union Township officials told her that state law prohibits anyone other than students from traveling on school buses.

Democratic state Sen. Karen Tallian of Ogden Dunes researched the question at the group’s request and learned the prohibition has been law for a number of years, but has apparently gone unnoticed. The law does have exceptions, but Special Olympics isn’t among them.

Tallian says she plans to raise the issue to lawmakers when the legislative session begins in January.

Valparaiso Community Schools didn’t respond to the newspaper’s calls for comment.