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History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
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Requires the use of seat belts by passengers of school buses; requires commissioner of transportation to place warning signs on all school buses
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Peter Rivera
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the usage of seat safety belts by passengers of school buses which are equipped with such belts
Purpose
This bill seeks to increase the safety of children while they are being transported by school bus, by requiring the use of seat belts in buses so equipped.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 would amend subdivision 1 of §3623 of the Education law to require all passengers on school buses equipped with seat belts to use them, and to require a sign to be posted on all school buses with seat belts that would notify passengers of the seat belt use requirement. The sign would be provided by the state Department of Transportation.
Section 2 would correct references in §3635-a of the Education law so that local school boards may provide for the installation of school seat safety belts; upon such installation, use of the belts would be required.
Existing law
Seat belts have been required to be installed in all new school buses purchased over the last 15 years, however, whether the use of the seat belts is required is currently up to the discretion of each school district.
Justification
In 1984, New York State led the nation in the drive toward automotive passenger safety, by requiring the use of seat belts and safety seats in motor vehicles operated in the state. A small group of vehicles was exempt from the application of this law; unfortunately, this exempt group of vehicles included school buses. In 1986, new school buses were required to have seat safety belts in place beginning the following year. Whether seat belts were required to be used was an issue left to the discretion of individual school districts. This legislation would close the circle of student vehicle safety.
Mandatory use of seat safety belts may protect student passengers from injury in the event of an accident, keep students from moving around the bus while it is in motion (which may prevent injuries incurred during normal driving), and lessen distractions that the driver may be subjected to as a result of students moving about while the bus is in motion. Furthermore, the required use of seat belts in a bus would address the double-standard that currently exists between children riding in passenger vehicles, who are required to use seat belts, and children riding in school buses, who are not.
Legislative history
2007-2008 Education Committee (S.1538/A.6676) 2005-2006 Education Committee (S.791/A.9391) 2003-2004 Education Committee (S.2330) 2001-2002 Education Committee (S.879/A4824) 1999-2000 Education Committee (S.4975/A.9318)
Fiscal implications
Minimal. EFFECTIVE DATE : September 1 following enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.