Rep. Costa Withdraws Sponsorship Of Bus Monitor Bill

State Rep. Doreen Marie Costa (R-Dist. 31) has withdrawn her name as primary sponsor of House Bill No. 5186, which calls for making school bus monitors optional, however the hearing scheduled for late afternoon Thursday will continue with a new bill sponsor, General Assembly officials confirmed.

Rep. Brian C. Newberry (R-Dist.r 48, North Smithfield, Burrillville) has become the new primary bill sponsor, confirmed Rep. Peter Martin (D-Dist.75, Newport), who serves as vice-chairman on the House Municipal Government Committee, which will conduct Thursday's hearing at the State House.

According to the House docket, the hearing will take place in Room 35 at "the rise of the House," which usually begins between 4 to 5 p.m., Martin said.

Those wishing to speak must first sign up and are advised to begin arriving earlier.

Martin said the venue was being moved to a larger room due to the expected public turnout.

Costa, who represents Exeter and North Kingstown, said she withdrew her name as the bill's primary sponsor this morning after receiving numerous emails and contact from constituents. She became concerned that the change in law would result in more job losses across Rhode Island and in her own district.

"I went through the bill again after receiving many calls from many people. I did hear from many people who supported the bill, but more from people who are against it," Costa said Thursday afternoon. "A lot of things changed my mind...One of those issues is that my district has already seen too much unemployment. I don't want this to mean more people will lose their jobs."

House Bill No. 5186 (An Act Relating to Education—Health and Safety of Pupils) proposes to remove the state mandate that, since 1986, has required all Rhode Island cities and towns to have school bus monitors on buses that transport students in grades kindergarten through grade 5. If passed, the matter would leave it up for cities and towns to decide whether to keep or cut school bus monitors. Earlier this week, Costa said the measure was introduced as a way to help those cities and towns in dire financial straits right now.

The bill originally was introduced on Jan. 27 and referred to the House Municipal Government Committee with Costa as the primary sponsor and with Rep. Daniel P. Gordon Jr. (R-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton), Rep. J. Patrick O'Neill (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket), and Rep. Brian C. Newberry (R-Dist.r 48, North Smithfield, Burrillville) also attached as introducing the bill.

Opposition to the bill has been led by the Pendergast family of Newport and Middletown, who lost 6-year-old Vanessa Anne Pendergast in a school bus accident in 1985 during an 18-month period when three Rhode Island children reportedly were killed by school buses.