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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires that bus drivers be provided with regular rest periods to have the opportunity to use a restroom
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Richard Brodsky
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to providing bus drivers with appropriate rest periods
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would require transportation providers to allow bus operators to use convenient restroom facilities along their routes following a period of work.
Summary of specific provisions
§ 1. Short title.
§ 2. Adds a new section 214-a of the transportation law.
§ 3. Effective date.
Justification
In a growing number of areas throughout our state, tight, computer generated, bus schedules and increased traffic congestion have virtually eliminated any extra time that transit operators formerly had to use restroom facilities along their routes when necessary.
In order to stay on schedule, transit operators routinely delay restroom breaks, which can lead to a series of serious health problems. Medical studies indicate that adverse health effects that may result from voluntary urinary retention include urinary tract infections (UTIs), renal damage, kidney infections, kidney failure, bladder cancer, and prostate problems. UTIs can lead to other complications if experienced during pregnancy, including low birth weight babies, who are at risk for additional health problems compared to normal weight infants.
Drivers who refrain from drinking throughout the day face risk of dehydration which can result in serious, and even potentially life-threatening, health effects, such as changes in the body's chemistry, kidney failure, nausea, headaches, dizziness or light-headedness, weakness, fever, and heart palpitations.
In addition, commercial motor vehicle operators who are not able to use the restroom, like any distressed, distracted drivers, are also a danger to others. They may be forced to ignore speed limits or drive recklessly, putting transit riders and all persons outside the vehicle at risk.
This bill would simply require transit agencies to allow bus operators to use convenient restroom facilities following a period of work. This is a human rights issue!
Prior legislative history
A8225 (2007-2008).
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.