What's happening
This bill requires annual comprehensive training for school bus drivers and attendants on preventing and responding to harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
Why it matters
Addresses the unique risks faced by students on school buses. by mandating specialized training for both drivers and attendants, recognizing that bullying and harassment can occur outside the classroom and require adult intervention during transit.
Focuses on students with disabling conditions. , ensuring bus attendants receive tailored instruction to protect especially vulnerable populations from harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
Requires ongoing, not one-time, education. , mandating annual or more frequent training; this aims to keep staff updated on best practices and reinforces a culture of vigilance and responsiveness.
Coordinates statewide standards. by having the commissioner and the School Bus Driver Safety Training Council oversee the training, promoting consistency and accountability across all school districts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train Bus Staff Against Bullying
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.579
- 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.
Train Bus Staff Against Bullying
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6392
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 15, 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 and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring comprehensive training for school bus drivers and school bus attendants in the discouragement, prevention and detection of harassment, bullying and discrimination
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3650 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. The commissioner shall develop a uniform and comprehensive training program for school bus drivers transporting students to and from school by school bus in the discouragement, prevention, and detection of harassment, bullying and discrimination as defined under article two of this chapter. Such training shall include, but not be limited to, instruction concerning the effects of harassment, bullying and discrimination and the appropriate response when a school bus driver encounters such situation. The training and instruction required by this subdivision may be included with the training and instruction required pursuant to paragraph a of subdivision one and subdivision two of this section and shall be provided at least once per year or more frequently as determined by the commissioner in consultation with the state comprehensive school bus driver safety training council.
§ 2. Section 1229-d of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
(5) The commissioner of education shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring that every school bus attendant serving pupils with a disabling condition receive training and instruction relating to the discouragement, prevention, and detection of harassment, bullying and discrimination as defined under article two of the education law. Such training shall include, but not be limited to, instruction concerning
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04992-01-7
S. 6392 2
the effects of harassment, bullying and discrimination and the appropriate response when a school bus attendant encounters such situation. The training and instruction required by this subdivision may be included with the training and instruction required pursuant to this section and shall be provided at least once per year or more frequently as determined by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the state comprehensive school bus driver safety training council.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 requiring comprehensive training for school bus drivers and school bus attendants in the discouragement, prevention and detection of harassment, bullying and discrimination
Purpose
This bill requires the Commissioner of Education develop a training program for bus drivers and bus attendants in the prevention of bullying and what to do in the event of a bullying incident.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends section 3650 of the education law by adding a new subdivision 3.
Section two amends section 1229-d of the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new subdivision 5.
Section three sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Much attention has been paid recently to the high incidences of bullying and harassment within schools across the state. Numerous initiatives have begun and attempts have been made to try to stem these frequent occurrences. While these proposals have been well received and bullying is slowly becoming less acceptable, the same issues and bullying events continue to occur outside of school completely unchecked.
In particular, the media has begun to highlight cases of bullying and harassment on school buses. While some buses are equipped with surveillance cameras, those who engage with threatening or bullying behavior continue unfazed. Video was released in July 2012 of a Virginia incident where a ten-year-old boy was physically and verbally harassed, even screaming in pain as he was burned with a lighter, as the bus driver simply continued on her route. Adults are victims as well, as footage of a harassed bus monitor in Greece, NY, made national headlines.
Bullying continues to be a devastating reality for thousands of New Yorkers. This legislation would require the Commissioner of the Department of Education to develop a training program for bus drivers and bus monitors to teach them how to appropriately manage and respond to a bullying incident.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This bill shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.