What's happening
This bill requires all New York school buses to be equipped with video and audio monitoring systems to improve safety and accountability.
Why it matters
Expands school bus monitoring beyond just video. The bill mandates simultaneous audio and video recording inside school buses, increasing the level of documentation for incidents and interactions among students and drivers.
Requires clear notification and transparency. Parents, students, and drivers must be regularly informed about the monitoring, the behaviors being tracked, and the specific disciplinary consequences for violations, aiming to uphold privacy expectations and ensure all parties understand the new policies.
Sets strict rules for storage and use of recordings. Recordings must be stored securely, reviewed regularly for safety and conduct issues, and kept for defined periods, especially if related to ongoing incidents or legal actions—impacting how schools manage data privacy and respond to disputes.
Provides funding eligibility for equipment. The law makes the purchase and installation of video and audio monitoring systems a reimbursable school district expense, potentially reducing financial barriers for districts to comply and standardizing safety technology statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Cameras on School Buses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4916
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. DIAZ, HAMILTON, LATIMER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing for the installation and use of video monitoring systems on 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. School bus video monitoring systems. 1. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of transportation, shall promulgate rules and regulations to require the board of education or trustees of every school district in the state to provide for the installation and use of one or more school bus video monitoring systems, as defined in subdivision thirteen-a of section thirty-six hundred twenty-one of this article, on every school bus, as defined in subdivision six of such section, that is purchased, leased, contracted for or used for the transportation of enrolled pupils for any reason by such district or by a school within the district. The commissioner of transportation, in consultation with the commissioner, shall amend the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to section thirty-six hundred twenty-three of this article, to require that every school bus be equipped with one or more school bus video monitoring systems in accordance with the requirements of subdivision twenty-one-j of section three hundred seventy-five of the vehicle and traffic law and this section.
2. The commissioner's rules and regulations shall require school districts to promulgate, communicate and enforce policies and procedures to be followed when using on-board video monitoring systems. Such policies and procedures shall include at a minimum, and shall be consistent with, the following requirements:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07238-01-7
S. 4916 2
a. Video cameras on school buses shall be used only as an aid to monitor on-board activities. These devices shall not replace discipline policy, the authority of the driver, or the responsibility of school officials. The code of conduct for pupil behavior on school property, adopted pursuant to section twenty-eight hundred one of this chapter, as it relates to conduct on school buses, and all other safe-driving and safe-riding rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the district or required by law or by the commissioner consistent with law shall be enforced on school buses whether or not pupils are being transported on such buses at the time conduct by a school bus driver or passenger while on-board the bus is observed.
b. All pupils and all school bus drivers shall be notified that they are subject to being videotaped on a school bus at any time. Such notification shall be made by the school to the parents of all enrolled pupils. Prior to actual videotaping, drivers, parents and pupils shall be advised what driver conduct and what pupil conduct is prohibited by the state and by the district and that such conduct will result in specified disciplinary consequences as defined in the established discipline policy. Actual videotaping shall be by means of simultaneous audio and video recording.
c. Regular and periodic notifications regarding videotaping must occur, addressing the purpose and use of video equipment and the need for personal awareness of safety issues. These notifications shall be made to guard against a false sense of security. The use of newsletters, pupil handouts, and notices posted within the bus shall constitute means of fulfilling this requirement.
d. After videotaping has been conducted, the tapes shall be stored in a secure location for a period of time designated by district policy, except that a specific tape may be removed from storage for playback whenever it is needed in an ongoing legal action or proceeding.
e. The board of education or trustees of every school district shall designate one or more personnel employed by the district or by every school within the district to periodically review videotapes on a random basis to ensure proper driver and pupil conduct. If no misconduct or safety-related incidents are reported within a period defined by the policy of the district, the tapes may be recycled for future use. However, if misconduct or safety-related incidents are reported, or if any such incident is viewed during the random selection process, the tapes shall be stored until final resolution or until such time as any administrative appeal or legal action or proceeding is concluded.
§ 2. Section 3621 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 13-a to read as follows:
13-a. School bus video monitoring system. The term "school bus video monitoring system" means one or more electronic devices consisting of at least a video camera and microphone and videotaping and audiotaping equipment, installed on a school bus and capable of recording the conduct and movement of persons within the driver and passenger compartments of the bus.
§ 3. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 3623-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
c. The purchase of equipment deemed a proper school district expense, including: (i) the purchase of two-way radios to be used on old and new school buses, (ii) the purchase of stop-arms, to be used on old and new school buses, (iii) the purchase and installation of seat safety belts on school buses in accordance with the provisions of section thirty-six
S. 4916 3
hundred thirty-five-a of this article, (iv) the purchase of school bus back up beepers, (v) the purchase of school bus front crossing arms, (vi) the purchase of school bus safety sensor devices, (vii) the purchase and installation of school bus video monitoring systems on school buses in accordance with the provisions of section thirty-six hundred twenty-four-a of this article, (viii) the purchase and installation of exterior reflective marking on school buses, [(viii)] (ix) the purchase of automatic engine fire extinguishing systems for school buses used to transport students who use wheelchairs or other assistive mobility devices, and [(ix)] (x) the purchase of other equipment as prescribed in the regulations of the commissioner; and
§ 4. Section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 21-j to read as follows:
21-j. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of transportation, shall promulgate rules and regulations for the use of school bus video monitoring systems on school buses.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law, provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of the foregoing sections of this act on the effective date of this act are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing for the installation and use of video monitoring systems on school buses
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the Education Law by adding a new section 3624-a. Provides that the Commissioner of Education (in consultation with the Department of Transportation) shall promulgate regulations requiring each school bus used to transport students to be equipped with a video monitoring system. Requires districts to establish policies on the use of such systems, linking them to the district's code of conduct and policies on discipline and vehicle operation. Provides for notification to students and drivers that videotaping may occur and for storage and review of such videotape by district staff.
Section 2. Amends the Education Law, section 3621 by adding a new subdivision 13-a. Defines "school bus video monitoring system."
Section 3. Amends the Education Law, section 3623-a(2)(c). Includes the purchase and installation of school bus video monitoring systems as a proper school district expense.
Section 4 Amends the Vehicle & Traffic Law, section 375 by adding a new subdivision 21-j. Authorizes the Commissioner of Transportation to adopt any necessary conforming regulations for the use of school bus video monitoring systems on school buses.
Section 5. Effective Date
Existing law
None
Justification
Due to the increasing number of incidents occurring on our school buses, including violent activities and actions that endanger passengers and drivers, there is a need to provide additional measures to permit behavior on buses to be monitored, evaluated and responded to on a timely basis. Video monitoring will greatly assist school districts in providing a clear understanding of conduct in such cases.
In June, 2012, a school bus monitor in the Town of Greece, NY was verbally abused and taunted by a group of middle school students. The episode was captured on a student's cell phone and made headline news. Once school officials became aware of what transpired, the police were contacted. The local school district implemented appropriate disciplinary action against the offenders.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.261 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION/A.6511 - referred to education 2015: S.261 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION/A.6511 - referred to education 2014: S.256 - Referred to Education/A.24 - Referred to Education 2013: S.256 - Referred to Education/A.24 Referred to Education 2012: S.286 - Referred to Education/ A.1109 Referred to Education 2011: S.286 - Defeated in Education/A.1109 Referred to Education 2009-10: S.3151 - Referred to Education/A.8846 Referred to Education 2007-08: 5.4069 - Referred to Education 2007-08: S.4157E - Passed Senate/A.3432E - Reported Referred to Ways and Means FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
To be determined.
Effective date
The 120th day after becoming law, provided that the Commissioner of Education is authorized to promulgate implementing regulations on or before such a date.
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