What's happening
This bill requires school bus drivers to release children age seven or under only to an authorized adult or older sibling, with violations classified as misdemeanors.
Why it matters
Increases School Bus Stop Safety for Young Children. By requiring that children age seven or under are only released to a parent, guardian, or a pre-authorized adult, the bill aims to reduce the risk of children being left alone, lost, or in potentially unsafe situations at bus drop-off points.
Mandates Clear Communication and Authorization Procedures. Parents or guardians must provide written notice to the school about who is authorized to pick up their child, which could improve clarity and accountability for all parties involved and help prevent miscommunication or unauthorized releases.
Provides a Sibling Exception for Family Flexibility. The exemption for children who exit the bus with a sibling age ten or older recognizes practical family arrangements, allowing some flexibility while still prioritizing younger children's safety.
Introduces Legal Liability for Bus Staff. By making it a misdemeanor for drivers, monitors, or attendants to knowingly violate these requirements, the bill assigns clear legal responsibility and could serve as a strong deterrent against non-compliance, raising the standard of care for school transportation staff.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Adult at Bus Drop-off
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4661
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. TITUS, PERRY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the release of certain pupils from school buses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3624-a to read as follows:
§ 3624-a. Release of certain pupils from school buses. 1. All pupils, age seven or under, riding a school bus shall be released into the custody of a parent, guardian or custodian upon exiting the school bus. If such parent, guardian or custodian is not available at the time of drop-off, the driver, monitor, or attendant must transport the pupil to a safe place, designated by the guardian.
2. Notwithstanding subdivision one of this section, a parent, guardian or custodian of a pupil may identify a person who shall be authorized to pick up such pupil. The parent, guardian or custodian of the pupil must provide written notice to the school or program identifying all persons authorized to pick up such pupil.
3. Any pupil exiting the school bus with his or her sibling, age ten or older, shall be exempt from the provisions of subdivision one of this section.
4. Any driver, monitor or attendant who knowingly violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03230-01-7
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.