(a)  Notwithstanding § 31-22-11.6, or any general law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, effective March 28, 2022, due to the public health crisis caused by COVID-19, the requirement of using designated types of vehicles for specified routes as contained in § 31-22-11.6(a)(2)(i) is hereby suspended for student transportation providers (“Providers”) retained by or via the Rhode Island department of education (“RIDE”) to provide student transportation services. For such routes, retained providers may utilize:

(1)  School buses, as defined in § 31-1-3;

(2)  Pupil transportation vehicles, as defined in § 31-22.1-1;

(3)  School extracurricular vehicles, as defined in § 31-22-11.6(a)(2)(ii);

(4)  Childcare vehicles, as defined in § 31-22-11.6(a)(2)(iii); and

(5)  Family childcare home vehicles, as defined in § 31-22- 11.6(a)(2)(iv).

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(b)  Vehicles authorized pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to transport students shall also be in compliance with the applicable laws, rules, and regulations related to student transportation vehicles and shall:

(1)  Carry a sign on the school bus visible from the front and back of the vehicle containing the lettering required by § 31-20-11;

(2)  Be equipped with Type I Class A turn signal lamps, which shall have a four-way hazard warning signal switch to cause simultaneous flashing of the turn signal lamps which may be activated when the vehicle is approaching a stop to load or discharge school students and when needed as a vehicular traffic hazard warning. Each vehicle shall also be equipped with front and rear alternating flashing school bus red signal lamps, which shall remain flashing when school pupils are entering or leaving the vehicle; and

(3)  Be equipped with one pair of adequate chock blocks and three (3) flares in compliance with United States Motor Vehicle D.O.T. Safety Standard No. 125.

(c)  The prohibition against school extracurricular vehicles from having amber or red flashing lights as contained in 280-RICR-30-15-8.5(B)(1) is hereby suspended.

(d)  Retained providers may utilize student transportation vehicles currently registered in Massachusetts or Connecticut to provide student transportation services in Rhode Island; provided that:

(1)  Each student transportation vehicle has current, valid Massachusetts or Connecticut registration and inspection stickers;

(2)  Each student transportation vehicle is covered by an insurance policy meeting the requirements of § 31-22-10.1;

(3)  The Rhode Island department of education has verified compliance of subsections (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section; and

(4)  The retained provider complies with the registration requirement for each student transportation vehicle pursuant to § 31-7-2 by the sunset date of this section.

(e)  The license requirements contained in §§ 31-10-5, 31-22.1-3(10), and 31-22-11.6(b)(10) are hereby suspended for drivers currently licensed in Massachusetts or Connecticut to operate student transportation vehicles and employed by retained providers pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and furthermore, the provider driver may operate student transportation vehicles appropriate for their licensure; provided that:

(1)  As applicable, the provider driver possesses a current, valid Massachusetts or Connecticut commercial driver’s license with a “P” and “S” endorsement and a current, valid Massachusetts school bus certificate if licensed in Massachusetts.

(2)  As applicable, the provider driver possesses a current, valid Massachusetts or Connecticut driver’s license that is the equivalent of a Rhode Island license with the appropriate endorsement(s) allowing the transportation of school children.

(3)  RIDE has verified compliance with subsections (e)(1) and (e)(2) of this section.

(4)  As applicable, the provider driver obtains a school bus certificate governed by 280-RICR-30-05-2 prior to the sunset of this section.

(5)  As applicable, the provider driver obtains a pupil transportation certificate governed by 280-RICR-30-05-5 prior to the sunset of this section.

(6)  The provider driver complies with license requirements under §§ 31-10-5, 31-22.1-3(10), and 31-22-11.6(b)(10) prior to the date of sunset of this section.

(f)  Unless extended by the general assembly, this section shall sunset upon the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year.