Title 31
Motor and Other Vehicles

Chapter 10
Operators’ and Chauffeurs’ Licenses

§ 31-10-5.2. Temporary school bus driver license for out-of-state holders of commercial driver’s license.

(a) A person who is a resident of a state which borders Rhode Island, and which person possesses a valid commercial driver’s license and a license to operate a school bus in the person’s state of residence, may apply for a temporary school bus certificate or pupil transportation certificate (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “temporary school bus driver license”) in Rhode Island, as follows:

(1) The person is a resident of the border state;

(2) The person brings to any branch of the division of motor vehicles (the “division”) an original or certified copy of the following documents which pertain to the person:

(i) A current valid school bus driver physical;

(ii) A valid in-force commercial driver’s license;

(iii) A valid in-force school bus operator license from the state wherein they are a resident;

(iv) Proof of residency in the bordering state;

(v) Proof of United States’ citizenship or lawful permanent residence;

(vi) A social security card; and

(vii) A letter from a local school bus provider, contractor, or school district indicating that the person will be employed as a school bus driver by the issuer of the letter if the person obtains their temporary school bus driver license pursuant to this section.

(3) In the event the person brings in the documents listed in this subsection, the division of motor vehicles shall review the documents. If the division determines the documents appear to be in order, the division may issue to the person a temporary school bus driver license under this section. In reviewing the documents, for purposes of this section, the division need only verify that the documents on their face appear valid; provided that, the division may refuse to issue the temporary school bus driver license if the division finds irregularities in the documents or has other reason to believe the temporary school bus driver license should not be issued to the applicant.

(b)(1) A temporary school bus driver license issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for and expire one hundred twenty (120) days after its date of issuance.

(2) Within that one hundred twenty-day period (120), the person may undertake the ten-hour (10) training course provided for in §§ 31-10-5 and 31-10-5.1. If the person undertakes and completes the training course, and submits proof of such completion to the division of motor vehicles before expiration of the temporary school bus driver license, and provided the person otherwise meets the requirements of this chapter, the person shall be issued a full school bus certificate or pupil transportation certificate, and shall be subject to the same rules and conditions as any holder of such a license or certificate.

(3) If a person operating under a temporary school bus certificate or pupil transportation certificate does not either complete the training required or fails to submit proof of their training as provided under this chapter, within the one hundred twenty-day period (120), the person’s temporary school bus driver license shall immediately be cancelled. The division of motor vehicles shall mail that person a written cancellation notice of their Rhode Island temporary school bus driver license.

(c) Temporary school bus driver licenses issued under this section shall not be used to influence or interfere with active labor disputes, including, but not limited to, strikes or work stoppages.