What's happening
This bill requires all mass transit motor buses in New York to install safety enclosures protecting bus drivers from passenger assaults.
Why it matters
Enhanced safety for transit workers. By mandating safety enclosures for bus drivers, the bill directly addresses the growing concern over assaults and injuries that drivers face, aiming to improve their working conditions and morale.
Potential impact on service continuity. Protecting drivers may reduce disruptions caused by incidents of violence, leading to fewer service delays or cancellations and more reliable bus service for riders.
Cost and implementation considerations. Transit agencies will likely need to invest in retrofitting existing buses or purchasing new ones with built-in enclosures, which could have financial and logistical implications for transit budgets and timelines.
Signal of prioritizing public employee safety. The measure underscores a broader policy emphasis on safeguarding public sector workers, which could influence similar protections in other transit systems or public service roles.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Bus Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4940
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. DIAZ, HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to requiring safety enclosures for motor buses used in mass transportation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 140 of the transportation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7-a to read as follows:
7-a. The commissioner, by rule or regulation, shall require all motor buses used in mass transportation, to have installed a safety enclosure to protect bus drivers from assault or injury caused by passengers.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07284-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to requiring safety enclosures for motor buses used in mass transportation
Purpose
To require that mass transit buses install enclosures for the protection the driver by passengers who embark and disembark from the bus.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the transportation law, section 140, by adding a new subdivision 7-a. It Requires the commissioner to require all buses used in mass transportation to install a safety enclosure for bus drivers.
Section 2. Effective Date
Justification
Due to the number of felonious assaults on bus drivers throughout the state of New York the legislature has seen fit to elevate the level of the criminal offenses to a felony when committed against a mass transit worker while they are in the performance of their duties. A review of this technology reveals that there are state-of-the-art enclosures in use on several mass transit systems and that in cities with populations of 1 million or more there is a tremendous concern on the part of bus drivers. Assuming the viability of these high-tech enclosures bus drivers will be better protected against random acts of violence which have been directed at bus drivers.
Existing law
None.
Legislative history
2016: S.273 - REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION 2015: S.273 - REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION 2014: S.21 - Referred to Transportation 2013: S.21 - Referred to Transportation 2012: S.7143-Referred to Transportation/A.9852 Referred to Transporta- tion
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
On the thirtieth day after it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.