Relates to the comprehensive school bus driver safety training program

3 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• John L. Sampson
• Diane J. Savino

BILL NUMBER:S2843

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the education law, in relation to the illegal passing of school buses and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the school bus motorist education fund

Purpose or general idea of bill

To discourage motorists from illegally passing stopped school buses, thereby improving the safety of school children.

Summary of specific provisions

Would direct the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in conjunction with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), the Departments of Education and Transportation, the Division of the State Police, and the State Comprehensive School Bus Driver Safety Training Council, to design and implement a public education program to educate motorists on the dangers of passing a school bus and to promote school bus safety.

Would also create a School Bus Motorist Education Fund, and direct that surcharges imposed for passing a stopped school bus be paid into this fund for use in providing grants for the study of the issue, the development of proposals to reduce the number of violations, and to promote school bus safety, as well as to fund the aforementioned public education program.

Effects of present law which this bill would alter

Adds new § 223-a to the VTL, amends VTL 1809(3), adds new paragraph (f) to Education Law § 3650(1), and adds a new § 89-h to the State Finance Law.

Justification

The problem of the illegal passing of school buses has been a re-occurring one, raising concerns among parents, drivers and transportation administrators alike. It has been estimated that over 50,000 illegal passing of buses occur each school day in New York. The legislation would earmark the surcharges collected from persons convicted of illegally passing a school bus to a special fund. Of this money, half would be allocated to the Comprehensive School Bus Driver Training Council for grants to specifically study the illegal Passing of school buses.

Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced grants to four groups, outside New York, to study how to curb the problem of motorists ignoring school bus flashing red warning lights. The State's unique character necessitates that a similar study be conducted in New York.

The remaining half of the monies would be used by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to develop and present public service announcements to be aired statewide. This two prong approach will result in increased safety for the State's 2.3 million children who ride school buses to and from school each day in New York State.

Prior legislative history

2011-12: S.5741/A.1178 - Referred to Transportation/Passed the Assembly 2009-2010: A.4054

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

Unknown.

Effective date

January 1 after enactment.