What's happening
This bill prohibits school bus drivers from using hands-free mobile phones while operating a bus, except during emergencies or when parked safely.
Why it matters
Increases school bus passenger safety. by reducing potential distractions for bus drivers, who are responsible for the well-being of children during transit.
Closes a loophole. in existing law that allowed school bus drivers to use hands-free devices, aligning their restrictions with those for handheld devices and other professional drivers.
Clarifies appropriate and legal communication. by only permitting hands-free mobile phone use in true emergencies or when the bus is safely parked and not during routine stops for student pick-up or drop-off.
Signals heightened accountability for school transportation. , potentially reducing accidents linked to driver inattention and strengthening public trust in school safety measures.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Phones for Bus Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
8 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
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.
Ban School Bus Phone Use
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Patrick M. Gallivan
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1573
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, LUPARDO, MOSLEY, GOTTFRIED, JAFFEE, ORTIZ, GALEF, ZEBROWSKI, SEAWRIGHT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to drivers of school buses using hands-free mobile telephones
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 1225-c of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(e) No driver of a school bus as defined in section one hundred forty-two of this chapter shall use a hands-free mobile telephone while operating a school bus except in the case of an emergency pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section or if the school bus is parked, for purposes other than dropping off or picking up students, at the side of, or off, a public highway in a location where such vehicle is not otherwise prohibited from stopping by law, rule, regulation or any lawful order or direction of a police officer.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 1225-c of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 69 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
3. Subdivision two of this section shall not apply to (a) the use of a mobile telephone for the sole purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an emergency situation: an emergency response operator; a hospital, physician's office or health clinic; an ambulance company or corps; a fire department, district or company; or a police department, (b) any of the following persons while in the performance of their official duties: a police officer or peace officer; a member of a fire department, district or company; or the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle as defined in section one hundred one of this chapter, or (c) the use of a hands-free mobile telephone, except in the case of a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01131-02-9
A. 1573 2
driver operating a school bus pursuant to paragraph (e) of subdivision two of this section.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.