2021 -- H 5236

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LC001105

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP STABILIZE COSTS AND OTHER FACTORS

ASSOCIATED WITH RHODE ISLAND'S CITIES' AND TOWNS' STUDENT

TRANSPORTATION

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Amore, Noret, and Casimiro

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2021

     Referred To: House Education

     WHEREAS, School transportation complexity and costs have grown exponentially over

the past three years; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's School Districts' transportation contracts are up 15 percent

and more, as school transportation companies try to recoup losses from the 2019-2020 school

year; and

     WHEREAS, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements have greatly expanded

school districts' transportation requirements; and

     WHEREAS, The majority of states across the country include school transportation costs

in their state's school funding formula; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of eleven (11) members; three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and

Secondary Education, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island

Association of School Committees, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of

the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the

President of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals, or designee; one of whom shall

be employed by a Rhode Island school transportation company, to be appointed by the Speaker;

one of whom shall be Director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration, or designee;

one of whom shall be the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, or designee; and

one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Association of School Business

Officials (RIASBO), or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to study and provide recommendations to help

stabilize costs and other factors associated with Rhode Island's cities' and towns' student

transportation including, but not limited to, examination of the inclusion of school transportation

costs into the state's education aid formula.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a

chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than January 4, 2022, and said commission shall expire on

April 4, 2022.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP STABILIZE COSTS AND OTHER FACTORS

ASSOCIATED WITH RHODE ISLAND'S CITIES' AND TOWNS' STUDENT

TRANSPORTATION

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     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations to help stabilize costs and

other factors associated with Rhode Island's cities' and towns' student transportation, and who

would report back to the House of Representatives no later than January 4, 2022, and whose life

would expire on April 4, 2022.

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