AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SCHOOL BUS SAFETY ENFORCEMENT (Allows parents or guardians to have access to GPS data of the bus or other motor vehicle used to transport students to and from school.)

S2392

2026 -- S 2392
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LC004470
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
ENFORCEMENT

Introduced By:
Senators Britto, DiMario, DiPalma, Gu, McKenney, Gallo, Tikoian,
Ciccone, Zurier, and LaMountain

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
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
:
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(1)

live

Live
digital video school bus violation detection monitoring systems. Such systems
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shall, at a minimum, be systems which monitor and detect school bus traffic violations. For
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purposes of this chapter a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system means
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a system with one or more camera sensors and computers which produce live digital and recorded
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video of motor vehicles being operated in violation of school bus traffic laws in violation of § 31-
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20-12. All systems installed for use under this chapter shall, at a minimum, produce a live visual
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image viewable remotely, a recorded image of the license plate, and be able to record the time,
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date, and location of the vehicle, and a signed affidavit by a person who witnessed the violation via
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live video.
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(2) The GPS (global positioning system) data regarding the real time location and velocity
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of the bus or other motor vehicle used to transport students to and from schools shall be made
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available electronically to the department, as well as to authorized parents or guardians of students
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who are being transported by such bus or other motor vehicle.
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(b) On and after July 1, 2027, all new school buses to be operated pursuant to § 31-20-

1
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)
(1)
of this section
, and the GPS requirements
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of subsection (a)(2) 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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(d) The school departments with input and approval by the municipal police chief may
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enter into an agreement with a private corporation or other entity to provide live digital video school
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bus violation detection monitoring systems and to maintain and operate such systems.
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(e) No information that is otherwise required to be reported or be made available
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electronically pursuant to this section shall be reported or be made available electronically in a
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manner that would violate any applicable provision of federal, state or local law related to the
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privacy of information or that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or otherwise
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conflict with the interests of law enforcement.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004470
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LC004470 - Page 2 of 3
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 allow parents or guardians to have access to GPS data of the bus or other
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motor vehicle used to transport students to and from school.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004470
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