Bill > S0336

This bill modifies Rhode Island's statewide school transportation system by allowing individual school districts to seek reimbursement from state funds if they can provide student transportation using their own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the centralized system. Currently, school districts are required to access a statewide integrated transportation system on a fee-for-service basis, but this amendment provides an alternative pathway for districts that can demonstrate cost-effectiveness by using their own resources. The bill specifically adds language requiring the department of elementary and secondary education to reimburse a district's transportation costs if those costs are lower than the statewide system's fees. This provision gives school districts more flexibility in managing their transportation services while maintaining the original goals of reducing duplicate routes, improving service efficiency, and controlling transportation expenses. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage, allowing districts to potentially benefit from this new reimbursement option in the near term.

Budget and Finance

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