Fifty-seventh Supplemental Emergency Declaration – School Bus Driver Recertification

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-02 declaring a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by COVID-19 and that Order is in effect until at least September 2, 2020;

WHEREAS, on June 11, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-44 setting the uniform statewide school calendar and that Order is in effect until at least August 9, 2020;

WHEREAS, ensuring that an adequate number of school bus drivers are properly licensed to transport school children is critical to the ability of local school districts and other local educational agencies throughout the State (collectively, "LEAs"1 ) to reopen schools for the 2020-2021 school year;

WHEREAS, on May 26, 2020, the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles ("DMV") issued its Fourth Expiration Date Extensions Order which, inter alia, extended the expiration date of all current school bus certificates from June 30, 2020 to August 31, 2020;

WHEREAS, the State's approximately 1,700 currently licensed school bus drivers have received extensive training and passed written examinations; and

WHEREAS, after consultation with the DMV, it has been determined that further flexibility is necessary to ensure continuous and reliable transportation for students attending schools by allowing timely renewal of school bus certificates prior to the start of the 2020-2021 school year while maintaining other renewal requirements that will adequately protect the safety of school children and the general public.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GINA M. RAIMONDO, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Rhode Island, pursuant to Article IX of the Rhode Island Constitution and the Rhode Island General Laws, including, but not limited to, Title 30, Chapter 15, do hereby order as follows:

1. The statutory and regulatory 3-hour annual retraining requirements contained in R.I. Gen. Laws§ 31-10-5.l(c) and 280-RICR-30-05-2.?(A)(l) are hereby suspended for recertification applications.
2. The statutory and regulatory written examination requirements contained in R.I. Gen. Laws§ 31-10-5.l(c) and 280-RICR-30-05-2.7(A)(2) are hereby suspended for recertification applications.
3. All school bus certificate renewal applicants shall submit all other documentation required by the DMV to process renewals.

This Executive Order shall take effect on August 10, 2020 and remain in full force and effect until September 9, 2020 unless renewed, modified or terminated by subsequent Executive Order.

So Ordered,

Gina M. Raimondo

Governor