(a) A school bus may be used to transport any student who lives within the mileage limit, if a mileage limit has been established by a local board of education, and if:

(1) The school bus is not filled to capacity;

(2) No additional bus stop is added to the route to transport the student; and

(3) The transportation officer or his designee has identified a specific existing hardship that would justify allowing the student to be transported.

(b) The transportation allocation of a county may not be reduced because of compliance with this section.