What's happening
This bill requires school buses to display a toll-free number for reporting improper operation and mandates related safety assessments.
Why it matters
Increases accountability for school bus drivers. by making it easier for the public to report unsafe or improper bus operation, potentially deterring reckless or negligent driving.
Creates a new channel for safety concerns. by requiring school buses to visibly display a toll-free reporting number, and mandates that reports are promptly forwarded to law enforcement and school officials, facilitating quicker responses to complaints.
Mandates ongoing evaluation of school bus safety. by requiring annual reports on the impact of the toll-free number system, which could lead to further policy changes or improvements in student transportation safety.
Requires clear regulatory standards. for how and where the reporting number is displayed, ensuring consistency statewide and helping ensure the system is visible and accessible to the public.
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Who cares
School districts and school bus operators
Every school bus would have to conspicuously display a toll-free number on its exterior for reporting improper operation.
State Education Department
The department would establish, operate and fund the hotline, while the education commissioner would set display rules in consultation with the motor vehicles commissioner and submit annual safety assessments and recommendations.
Law enforcement and school officials
They would receive reports of improper school bus operation through a referral procedure established by the education commissioner.
Parents and motorists
They would have a toll-free number displayed on school buses to report improper operation.
Headline styles
Report Unsafe School Buses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3236
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. McKEVITT, KEARNS, GARBARINO, GRAF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring school buses to display a toll free number for reporting an improper operation of such school bus
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3623 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. A toll free number which may be contacted to report the improper operation of a school bus shall be conspicuously displayed on the exterior of every school bus. The commissioner in consultation with the commissioner of motor vehicles shall promulgate regulations regarding the size and location of such number. Such toll free number shall be established, operated and funded by the department. In addition, the commissioner shall establish a procedure whereby such reports are forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement and school officials within a reasonable period of time.
§ 2. The commissioner of education in consultation with the commissioner of motor vehicles shall prepare a report and submit it to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly by December 31, 2018 and on December thirty-first of each succeeding year. Such report shall contain an assessment of the impact on safety of requiring a toll free number to be displayed on school buses in accordance with the provisions of this act and specific recommendations to increase school bus safety.
§ 3. Subparagraphs 10 and 11 of paragraph e of subdivision 1 of section 3623-a of the education law, as added by chapter 474 of the laws of 1996, are amended to read as follows:
(10) the consideration for the contract or contracts made for the purpose of providing transportation by horse-drawn vehicle or vehicles,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04655-01-7
A. 3236 2
if any school district shall be required to provide such transportation; [and]
(11) toll free numbers displayed on the exterior of every school bus for the purpose of reporting improper operation of a school bus; and
(12) other expenses for district operated transportation systems, as approved pursuant to regulations of the commissioner.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law, except that any rules or regulations necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date shall be promulgated on or before such date.
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.