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A7315Assembly2017-2018 Session

Test Bus Drivers for Substances

Official title

“Provides for drug and alcohol testing of school bus drivers and when circumstances, such as accidents, dictate a more thorough investigation and review”

Sponsor Matthew TitoneAD-61+5 co-sponsorsAffects Transportation
Status
Stricken
Impact
4/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Transportation

What's happening

This bill requires biennial drug and alcohol testing for school bus drivers, in addition to existing vision tests.

Why it matters

  1. Targets School Bus Safety. By adding mandatory drug and alcohol testing every two years, the bill aims to directly address concerns about impaired driving among school bus drivers, prioritizing student safety.

  2. Elevates Driver Accountability. Regular testing increases the level of professional oversight and personal accountability for drivers, potentially deterring substance use and ensuring those with issues are identified and addressed.

  3. Extends Beyond Routine Testing. The bill allows for more thorough investigation and testing “when circumstances, including but not limited to accidents, dictate,” empowering authorities to act swiftly after incidents or red flags.

  4. Aligns with Broader Public Trust. Given the high responsibility school bus drivers have, the new requirements could bolster public confidence in student transportation and reassure parents about the state's commitment to safety.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Test Bus Drivers for Substances

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Matthew Titone

Assembly Member · Assembly District 61

History

  1. Enacting clause stricken
  2. Referred to transportation
  3. Referred to transportation

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

7315

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

April 21, 2017

Introduced by M. of A. TITONE, COOK, GALEF, BENEDETTO, McKEVITT, ORTIZ, M. G. MILLER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CAHILL, CURRAN, FINCH, GOODELL, HAWLEY, HOOPER, McDONOUGH, MONTESANO, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to drug and alcohol testing of school bus drivers

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 509-g of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 376 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

1. A biennial examination pursuant to regulations established by the commissioner, by a physician, a certified nurse practitioner to the extent authorized by law and consistent with subdivision three of section six thousand nine hundred two of the education law, or a registered physician assistant who is not the personal physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant of the driver. Included shall be a requirement to conduct a vision test and a test for the presence of drugs and/or alcoholic content in the driver's blood and when circumstances, including but not limited to accidents, dictate a more thorough investigation and review pursuant to regulations issued by the commissioner.

§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD11023-01-7

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.