What's happening
This bill requires transportation providers to give bus drivers at least a ten-minute rest period every four hours, including restroom access.
Why it matters
Improves driver well-being and public safety. By guaranteeing rest periods, the bill seeks to reduce driver fatigue, which is a leading cause of accidents and errors, thus making public transportation safer for everyone.
Mandates paid breaks. The required ten-minute rest periods every four hours must be provided without reducing the driver's pay, ensuring fair labor standards for bus drivers.
Applies to a wide range of transportation providers. The law covers both public and private transit agencies, as well as non-profits using public funds, ensuring that nearly all bus drivers in the state benefit from these protections.
Allows for flexibility through collective bargaining. The bill permits unions and employers to negotiate different rest period arrangements in their contracts, fostering cooperation while maintaining a minimum standard.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Rest Breaks for Bus Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2541
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 20, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to providing bus drivers with appropriate rest periods
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "public transit safety act".
§ 2. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 214-a to read as follows:
§ 214-a. Appropriate rest periods for bus drivers. 1. As used in this section:
a. "Appropriate rest period" means a period of rest of not less than ten minutes for every segment of four hours or major part thereof worked in one work period without deduction for the employee's pay.
b. "Bus" means every motor vehicle having a seating capacity of nine or more passengers in addition to the driver and used for the transportation of persons.
c. "Bus driver" means any person employed by any transit agency, authority or company, public or private, whose operation is authorized by the state or any of its political subdivisions, that drives a bus for hire or profit.
d. "Transportation provider" means any public, private or not-for-profit entity, including any transportation authority, utilizing public funds to provide or contract for public transportation services for the benefit of the general public or specific client groups.
2. a. Every transportation provider shall provide each bus driver an appropriate rest period to utilize the nearest convenient restroom.
b. No provision of this section shall be deemed to prohibit employers and employees from establishing appropriate rest periods which differ from those required by this section pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04429-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.