Requires transporters, school districts, and counties to establish a rider verification system for certain special transportation passengers

BILL NUMBER:S1880

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a rider verification system to be established for certain special transportation passengers

Purpose

To reduce the cost of administration to counties by minimizing errors in reporting transportation of mandated preschool students.

Summary of provisions

Amends Part 2, Title 5, Article 73 of the Education Law by adding a new section 3623-b requiring transporters to provide a real time tracking system for mandated preschool children meeting the definition of a Medicaid reimbursable student.

Justification

There are several benefits to both the state and municipalities by the implementation of this type of program, including but not limited to:

1. Safety - Lost student/child

A. Left on bus - student never leaves the bus, is undetected by the driver and subsequently is left for extended period on a bus that has been parked at the bus terminal after the driver has left for the day.

B. Dropped off at the wrong location - driver incorrectly identifies the student and drops student at the wrong stop.

C. Parent needs to contact student part way through a bus run, and paperwork shows the student on the wrong bus. Example: terror attach is announced on tv/radio and the parent wants to find his/her child immediately.

D. Student has a particular handicap and might be mishandled because of incorrect identification.

2. Loss of Federal Aid

A. Wrong pickup and drop-off times and stop locations because of faulty paperwork, resulting in a lack of validation that the service was performed.

Legislative history

2013-14 - S.4513 Education Committee/A.6935 Education Committee

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

180 after enactment.