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LC005126/SUB B

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY STUDENT

TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND SYSTEM COSTS

     Introduced By: Senators Ujifusa, Gallo, Pearson, Zurier, Ciccone, DiPalma, McKenney,
Mack, Bell, and Euer

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Education

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Law § 16-21.1-2. establishes school bus districts

within the state to provide bus transportation in the interest of public safety, health, and welfare

for pupils in grades kindergarten through twelve, or in special education programs who attend

public schools, regional schools, and nonpublic nonprofit schools which are consolidated, or

regionalized, and where said school bus districts originally established in 1977, are not

contiguously aligned, resulting in increased transportation costs for many districts; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Law § 16-21.1-8. mandates an out-of-district

statewide school transportation system and requires a fee be paid to the Department of

Elementary and Secondary Education, thus preventing school districts from exploring more cost-

effective ways of providing transportation; and

     WHEREAS, Staffing shortages in the Rhode Island public transit authority have caused

students attending the Providence public schools to be absent from or late for school; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission on Student Transportation Needs and

System Costs be and the same is hereby created consisting of thirteen (13) 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; three (3) of whom shall be members

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

President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary

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

Association of School Committees, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode

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

Board for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Secretary/Treasurer of Teamsters Local 251, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of

the RI Department of Children, Youth & Families, or designee; and one of whom shall be a

student from a school district currently experiencing transportation problems due to the existing

statewide system, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to 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 evaluate and determine the transportation

needs of students, the most cost-effective way of providing transportation services, whether

transportation costs should be incorporated into the education funding formula's core foundation

amount, and what changes, if any, need to be made in chapter 21.1 of title 16 of the Rhode Island

general laws.

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

the call of the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate and shall select, from among the

legislators, co-chairpersons.

     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

General Assembly no later than April 16, 2025, and said commission shall expire on May 27,

2025.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY STUDENT

TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND SYSTEM COSTS

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special joint legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study to determine the transportation needs

of students and the most cost-effective way of providing transportation services, and what

changes, if any, need to be made in chapter 21.1 of title 16 of the Rhode Island General Laws,

and which would report back to the General Assembly no later than April 16, 2025, and whose

life would expire on May 27, 2025.

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