2022 -- H 7293

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LC003219

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MISCELLANEOUS RULES

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, McLaughlin, Noret, and Craven

     Date Introduced: February 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-22 of the General Laws entitled "Miscellaneous Rules" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-22-11.10. School bus driver incentive response fund.

     (a) There is hereby established a separate fund within the treasury to be known as the school

bus driver incentive response fund (hereinafter the "school bus incentive fund"). This school bus

incentive fund shall be administered by the general treasurer in accordance with the same laws and

fiscal procedures as the general funds of the state, and in consultation with the commissioner of the

department of elementary and secondary education (the "education commissioner"). This school

bus incentive fund shall consist of such sums as the state may from time to appropriate, as well as

at least five million dollars ($5,000,000) received from federal COVID-19 response funds

(hereinafter "COVID-19 response funds") received by the state to assist the state in its public health,

community and economic recovery efforts related to the state of emergency concerning the novel

coronavirus disease outbreak declared by the governor on March 9, 2020. This school bus incentive

fund shall also consist of interest earnings, money received from the federal government, gifts,

bequests, donations, or otherwise from any public or private source. The initial funding for the

school bus incentive fund shall be a grant of five million dollars ($5,000,000) from COVID-19

response funds.

     (b) The school bus incentive fund shall be used for the purpose of allowing school districts

to provide financial assistance to student transportation providers to offer incentives for

employment and retention of persons who operate school buses within the state, including bus

drivers as well as bus monitors. As used herein, the term "school bus" includes traditional school

buses, vans, and other motor vehicles used by the district, either directly or through an outside

provider, to transport students to and from school, as well as to transport students for field trips,

athletic events, and other transportation provided by a school or school district to students for

school-related and extracurricular activities as well as student activities engaged in as part of the

basic education program ("BEP") and activities which fall outside of the BEP.

     (c) The school bus incentive fund shall be credited with:

     (1) Revenue authorized by the general assembly and specifically designated to be credited

to the school bus incentive fund from federal funds allocated to the state pursuant to federal

legislation enacted after December 4, 2020 and in response to the COVID-19 outbreak or related

economic recovery, excluding federal grants that are not subject to appropriation and funds related

to increased federal medical assistance percentage rates under section 1905(b) of the Social

Security Act; provided, that federal funds made available in the form of newly created

reimbursement programs may be authorized by the general assembly and designated to be credited

to the school bus incentive fund; and

     (2) Interest earned on such revenue. Amounts credited to the school bus incentive fund

shall be subject to appropriation and money remaining in the school bus incentive fund at the end

of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund and shall be available for expenditure in the

subsequent fiscal year.

     (d) The general treasurer, in consultation with the education commissioner, shall

promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of this section, emphasizing the

establishment of metrics for awarding these funds as well as a process allowing a school district to

access school bus incentive funds to pay extra compensation or incentives to hire and retain school

bus drivers and monitors. Funds shall be issued by the general treasurer directly to school districts

as directed by the education commissioner.

     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 -- MISCELLANEOUS RULES

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     This act would establish a revolving school bus driver incentive fund for the purpose of

providing incentives to school districts to hire and retain school bus drivers and monitors. Initial

monies for the fund would come from a grant of COVID-19 response funds in the amount of five

million dollars ($5,000,000).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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