What's happening
This bill allows school bus stop arm video systems and other bus safety technologies to be counted as allowable transportation expenses for school districts.
Why it matters
This bill incentivizes school districts to adopt advanced bus safety measures. by making stop arm video systems and similar technologies eligible for state transportation aid, helping districts offset the costs of implementing these tools.
Strict requirements are set for how video footage is managed. , mandating that school districts—not third-party vendors—control the review and storage of recordings, with collaboration from law enforcement as needed. This addresses privacy and data security concerns.
Deployment of these systems must include clear internal protocols. for reviewing captured video and collecting driver statements after each incident, aiming to ensure due process and thorough documentation when potential violations occur.
The law requires that these technologies enable positive identification. of both individuals and vehicles involved in infractions, which could lead to more effective enforcement of laws protecting students at bus stops and potentially deter dangerous driver behavior.
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Fund Bus Stop Cameras
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Fund Bus Camera Systems
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5888
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to making school bus stop arm video systems an allowable transportation expense
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 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, if any school district shall be required to provide such transportation; [and]
(11) school bus safety technology, including school bus stop arm video systems, provided that: such systems require school districts to manage each systems' recorded video without the involvement of a third party, in association with any relevant law enforcement agencies; the deployment of such systems is accompanied by appropriate internal protocols for video review and driver statements are collected after each recorded incident; and the technology allows the positive identification of the recorded individual and vehicle; and
(12) other expenses for district operated transportation systems, as approved pursuant to regulations of the commissioner.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth 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 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.
LBD11409-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to making school bus stop arm video systems an allowable transportation expense
Purpose
To amend the state education law to make school bus stop arm cameras an allowable transportation expense.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends subsection 1e, of section 3623-a, title 5, article 73, part 2, of the state education law to allow certain school bus stop arm video systems to be an allowable transportation expense.
Section 2: States that the act shall take effect ninety days after this bill shall have become law.
Justification
Our State's children are endangered every day by motorists who fail to stop for school buses that have their red lights flashing to indicate that children are boarding or leaving the bus. Data suggests that there may be tens of thousands of instances per month where drivers illegally pass a stopped school bus statewide. Such acts endanger our children. To reduce the safety problem of illegal passing of stopped school buses the section of the Vehicle and Traffic Law that makes this act illegal must be more effectively and more widely enforced. Though police officers and bus drivers both work diligently in their own ways to ensure motorist and pedestrian safety, they cannot be everywhere or spot every violation. This bill would complement others currently being considered by the Senate, so that as the law is changed to add stop arm cameras to the State's public safety arsenal schools will be more financially able to equip their buses with them.
If this bill is enacted, schools will be able to request reimbursement from the state in the same way that they already do for fuel costs or repair bills. By deploying more stop arm cameras statewide, would be scofflaws will know with certainty that their illegal behavior will be spotted. The threat of criminal prosecution will thereby be almost guaranteed, hopefully deterring some drivers from passing a stopped school bus in the first place and catching those who still ultimately decide to break the law.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect within 90 days.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.