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A4950Assembly2019-2020 SessionSame asS4524

Authorize School Bus Cameras

Official title

“Relates to statewide school bus cameras”

Sponsor William MagnarelliAD-129+33 co-sponsorsAffects Legal
Status
Signed by Governor
Impact
7/10
Significant
Outcome
Signed into law

Bill progress

Signed into law

What's happening

This bill authorizes New York municipalities and school districts to use cameras on school buses to fine vehicle owners who illegally pass stopped school buses.

Why it matters

  1. Direct impact on child safety and driver accountability. By enabling local governments and school districts to use cameras to enforce laws against illegally passing stopped school buses, the bill aims to deter a dangerous practice that puts children at risk during school bus loading and unloading.

  2. Creates a new, automated enforcement and fine system. The legislation sets out the legal framework for capturing violations via bus-mounted cameras, defines how evidence is handled, sets fine amounts ($250 for a first violation, rising with repeat offenses), and establishes administrative procedures for contesting tickets—potentially affecting the daily routines of drivers and vehicle owners.

  3. Privacy and data protection measures. The bill includes provisions requiring images and data captured by cameras to be used exclusively for enforcing school bus stop-arm violations, mandates steps to minimize capturing non-violator information (like faces of drivers and passengers), and requires prompt destruction of images after their legal use, addressing privacy concerns.

  4. Local government and school district collaboration, funding, and reporting. The law requires formal agreements between school districts and municipalities for implementation, specifies that localities (not school districts) must bear all program costs, and mandates annual public reporting on program results—impacting local budgets, transparency, and the potential for program expansion or modification based on data.

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Who cares

  • County, city, town and village governments

    They could establish school bus camera enforcement programs by local law, but would have to cover participating school districts’ costs and meet privacy, signage and reporting requirements.

  • School districts and school bus contractors

    Districts could agree to cameras on district-owned or contracted buses, with municipal reimbursement of district costs and restrictions on access to footage.

  • Vehicle owners

    They could face camera-based fines starting at $250 for illegally passing a stopped school bus, even when someone else drives with their permission, without the liability affecting driving records or insurance.

  • School bus drivers

    Camera images would be barred from use in district or contractor disciplinary proceedings and state proceedings involving their school bus operating privileges.

Headline styles

Authorize School Bus Cameras

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
William Magnarelli

Assembly Member · Assembly District 129

Chair, Transportation

1 Multi-sponsor

History

  1. Signed chap.145
  2. Delivered to governor
  3. Returned to assembly
  4. Passed senateVote 58–0
  5. 3rd reading cal.408
  6. Substituted for S4524B
  7. Recommitted to transportation
  8. Returned to senate
  9. Repassed assembly
  10. Amended on third reading 4950b
  11. Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
  12. Returned to assembly
Show 13 earlier actions
  1. Recalled from senate
  2. Referred to transportation
  3. Delivered to senate
  4. Passed assembly
  5. Ordered to third reading rules cal.40
  6. Rules report cal.40
  7. Reported
  8. Reported referred to rules
  9. Reported referred to ways and means
  10. Print number 4950a
  11. Amend and recommit to codes
  12. Reported referred to codes
  13. 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.

S4524Senate

Statewide School Bus Cameras

Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Timothy M. Kennedy

Impact 7 · Significant0% to pass

Full text

58 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

4950--B R. R. 40

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

February 6, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI, LUPARDO, THIELE, SIMON, GALEF, STIRPE, PICHARDO, D'URSO, McDONALD, PAULIN, SANTABARBARA, ENGLEBRIGHT, FALL, SAYEGH, GOTTFRIED, GLICK, GRIFFIN, JAFFEE, DenDEKKER, LiPETRI, PHEFFER AMATO, TAYLOR, WEPRIN, HYNDMAN, ARROYO,… Show all

Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI, LUPARDO, THIELE, SIMON, GALEF, STIRPE, PICHARDO, D'URSO, McDONALD, PAULIN, SANTABARBARA, ENGLEBRIGHT, FALL, SAYEGH, GOTTFRIED, GLICK, GRIFFIN, JAFFEE, DenDEKKER, LiPETRI, PHEFFER AMATO, TAYLOR, WEPRIN, HYNDMAN, ARROYO, RAMOS, FAHY, ORTIZ, DINOWITZ, FERNANDEZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DE LA ROSA -read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -reported and referred to the Committee on Rules -- ordered to a third reading, passed by Assembly and delivered to the Senate, recalled from the Senate, vote reconsidered, bill amended, ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the special order of third reading

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to school bus photo violation monitoring systems and owner liability for failure of operator to stop for a school bus displaying a red visual signal; to amend the general municipal law, in relation to… Show all

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to school bus photo violation monitoring systems and owner liability for failure of operator to stop for a school bus displaying a red visual signal; to amend the general municipal law, in relation to jurisdiction and procedure; to amend the public officers law, in relation to certain photographs, videotapes or other recorded images; to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing school districts to enter into agreements with municipalities for the installation and use of school bus photo violation monitoring systems; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 235 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 1 of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law or administrative code to the contrary, in any city which heretofore or hereafter is authorized to establish an administrative

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD09710-07-9

A. 4950--B 2

tribunal to hear and determine complaints of traffic infractions constituting parking, standing or stopping violations, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with sections eleven hundred eleven-b of this chapter as added by sections sixteen of chapters twenty, [twenty-one,] and twenty-two of the laws of two thousand nine, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred seventy-four-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of toll collection regulations as defined in and in accordance with the provisions of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities law and sections sixteen-a, sixteen-b and sixteen-c of chapter seven hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen hundred fifty, or to adjudicate liability of owners in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-c of this chapter for violations of bus lane restrictions as defined in subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of such section, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter, such tribunal and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto shall be constituted in substantial conformance with the following sections.

§ 1-a. Section 235 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 1-a of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

§ 235. Jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law or administrative code to the contrary, in any city which heretofore or hereafter is authorized to establish an administrative tribunal to hear and determine complaints of traffic infractions constituting parking, standing or stopping violations, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with sections eleven hundred eleven-b of this chapter as added by sections sixteen of chapters twenty, [twenty-one,] and twenty-two of the laws of two thousand nine, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred seventy-four-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of toll collection regulations as defined in and in accordance with the provisions of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the

A. 4950--B 3

public authorities law and sections sixteen-a, sixteen-b and sixteen-c of chapter seven hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen hundred fifty, or to adjudicate liability of owners in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-c of this chapter for violations of bus lane restrictions as defined in such section, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter, such tribunal and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto shall be constituted in substantial conformance with the following sections.

§ 1-b. Section 235 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 1-b of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

§ 235. Jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law or administrative code to the contrary, in any city which heretofore or hereafter is authorized to establish an administrative tribunal to hear and determine complaints of traffic infractions constituting parking, standing or stopping violations, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with sections eleven hundred eleven-b of this chapter as added by sections sixteen of chapters twenty, [twenty-one,] and twenty-two of the laws of two thousand nine, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred seventy-four-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of toll collection regulations as defined in and in accordance with the provisions of section two thousand nine hundred eightyfive of the public authorities law and sections sixteen-a, sixteen-b and sixteen-c of chapter seven hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen hundred fifty, or to adjudicate liability of owners in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-c of this chapter for violations of bus lane restrictions as defined in such section, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter, such tribunal and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto shall be constituted in substantial conformance with the following sections.

§ 1-c. Section 235 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 1-c of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

§ 235. Jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law or administrative code to the contrary, in any city which heretofore or hereafter is authorized to establish an administrative tribunal to hear and determine complaints of traffic infractions constituting parking, standing or stopping violations, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred

A. 4950--B 4

eleven-e of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred seventy-four-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of toll collection regulations as defined in and in accordance with the provisions of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities law and sections sixteen-a, sixteen-b and sixteen-c of chapter seven hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen hundred fifty, or to adjudicate liability of owners in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-c of this chapter for violations of bus lane restrictions as defined in such section, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter, such tribunal and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto shall be constituted in substantial conformance with the following sections.

§ 1-d. Section 235 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 1-d of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

§ 235. Jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law or administrative code to the contrary, in any city which heretofore or hereafter is authorized to establish an administrative tribunal to hear and determine complaints of traffic infractions constituting parking, standing or stopping violations, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred seventy-four-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of toll collection regulations as defined in and in accordance with the provisions of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities law and sections sixteen-a, sixteen-b and sixteen-c of chapter seven hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen hundred fifty, or to adjudicate liability of owners for violations of subdivisions (c) and (d) of section eleven hundred eighty of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eighty-b of this chapter, such tribunal and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto shall be constituted in substantial conformance with the following sections.

§ 1-e. Section 235 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 1-e of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

§ 235. Jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law or administrative code to the contrary, in any city which heretofore or hereafter is authorized to establish an administrative tribunal to hear and determine complaints of traffic infractions constituting parking, standing or stopping violations, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-d of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for

A. 4950--B 5

violations of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred seventy-four-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of toll collection regulations as defined in and in accordance with the provisions of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities law and sections sixteen-a, sixteen-b and sixteen-c of chapter seven hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen hundred fifty, such tribunal and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto shall be constituted in substantial conformance with the following sections.

§ 1-f. Section 235 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 1-f of chapter 222 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

§ 235. Jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law or administrative code to the contrary, in any city which heretofore or hereafter is authorized to establish an administrative tribunal to hear and determine complaints of traffic infractions constituting parking, standing or stopping violations, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of subdivision (d) of section eleven hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred eleven-e of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter in accordance with section eleven hundred seventy-four-a of this chapter, or to adjudicate the liability of owners for violations of toll collection regulations as defined in and in accordance with the provisions of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities law and sections sixteen-a, sixteen-b and sixteen-c of chapter seven hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen hundred fifty, such tribunal and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto shall be constituted in substantial conformance with the following sections.

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