2025 -- H 5421

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LC001463

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

ENFORCEMENT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Read, Messier, Casimiro, Serpa, O'Brien,
Corvese, Craven, Biah, and Finkelman

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2025

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 31-51-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-51 entitled "School Bus

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Safety Enforcement" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     31-51-2. Live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems.

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     (a) All school departments of this state are hereby authorized to install and operate live

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digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems. Such systems shall at a minimum,

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be systems which monitor and detect school bus traffic violations. For purposes of this chapter a

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live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system means a system with one or

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more camera sensors and computers which produce live digital and recorded video of motor

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vehicles being operated in violation of school bus traffic laws in violation of 31-20-12. All systems

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installed for used use under this chapter must shall, at a minimum, produce a live visual image

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viewable remotely, a recorded image of the license plate, and be able to record the time, date, and

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location of the vehicle, and a signed affidavit by a person who witnessed the violation via live

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video.

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     (b) On and after July 1, 2027, all new school buses to be operated pursuant to § 31-20-

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11(a) shall be equipped with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system

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that conforms with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

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     (c) On and after July 1, 2032, all school buses to be operated pursuant to § 31-20-11(a)

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shall be equipped with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system that

 

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conforms with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

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     (b)(d) The school departments may enter into an agreement with a private corporation or

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other entity to provide live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems and to

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maintain and operate such systems.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

ENFORCEMENT

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     This act would require that all new school buses be equipped with live digital video school

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bus violation detection monitoring systems as of July 1, 2027. All buses, new and used, must have

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the monitoring systems installed by July 1, 2032.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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