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H8548
2026 -- H 8548
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LC006454
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TRANSPORTATION OF SCHOOL PUPILS BEYOND CITY
AND TOWN LIMITS
Introduced By:
Representatives Knight, Donovan, and Speakman
Date Introduced:
May 13, 2026
Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 16-21.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21.1 entitled
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"Transportation of School Pupils Beyond City and Town Limits [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The
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Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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16-21.1-2. School bus districts established.
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(a) There are hereby established school bus districts within the state to provide bus
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transportation in the interest of public safety, health, and welfare for pupils in grades kindergarten
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through twelve (12), or in special education programs, who attend public schools, including
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vocational schools and special education programs provided in accord with regulations of the board
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of regents for elementary and secondary education, consolidated schools, regional schools
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established under the provisions of § 16-3-1 et seq., or who participate in cooperative programs as
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provided by § 16-3.1-1 et seq., and nonpublic nonprofit schools which are consolidated,
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regionalized, or otherwise established to serve residents of a specific area within the state which
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schools satisfy the requirements of law for any of the grades of school, kindergarten through twelve
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(12), as follows:
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(1) Region I: The towns of Burrillville, North Smithfield, and Cumberland, and the city of
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Woonsocket;
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(2) Region II: The county of Kent, except the town of West Greenwich and the towns of
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Foster, Glocester, and Scituate;
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(3) Region III: The towns of Lincoln, Smithfield, Johnston, North Providence, Barrington,
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Warren, and Bristol,
and the cities of Cranston, Central Falls, East Providence, Pawtucket, and
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Providence;
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(4) Region IV: The county of Washington and the towns of Jamestown and West
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Greenwich;
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(5) Region V: The towns of Little Compton, Middletown, Portsmouth,
Warren, Bristol,
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and Tiverton, and the city of Newport.
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(b) A pupil attending a school, including a public school, vocational school, special
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education program provided in accord with regulations of the board of regents for elementary and
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secondary education, a regional school established under the provisions of § 16-3-1 et seq., as
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authorized by § 16-3.1-1 et seq., or a nonpublic nonprofit school for grades kindergarten through
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twelve (12), consolidated, regionalized, or otherwise established to serve residents of a specific
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area within the state for any of the grades of schools, kindergarten through twelve (12), in the
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interest of public safety, health, and welfare, shall be provided with bus transportation to the school
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or facility which the pupil attends, within the region in which the pupil resides, by the school
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committee of the city or town within which the pupil resides. The cost of transporting a pupil
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attending a charter school, the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School
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(“Davies”), or the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (“the Met Center”) within
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the established region shall be charged to the receiving school at the same grade level transportation
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per pupil cost of the resident district. Districts may offer transportation to charter schools, Davies,
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or the Met Center outside the established region in order to facilitate efficiency provided there is
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not additional cost to the resident district.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TRANSPORTATION OF SCHOOL PUPILS BEYOND CITY
AND TOWN LIMITS
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This act would remove the towns of Warren and Bristol from school bus district Region III
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and place Warren and Bristol in school bus district Region V.
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This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.
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