What's happening
This bill requires a mandatory "School Bus Safety" awareness component in New York's pre-licensing driver's education courses.
Why it matters
Targets a common and dangerous traffic violation. By mandating school bus safety education for all pre-licensing drivers, the bill addresses the persistent problem of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses—a leading risk to children’s safety around schools.
Standardizes critical safety knowledge. The bill requires a consistent, commissioner-developed curriculum on school bus laws and safe practices, ensuring every new driver in New York receives the same foundational instruction about when to stop for school buses and the consequences of violations.
Promotes collaboration and expertise. The curriculum will be created in consultation with the commissioner of transportation, integrating practical expertise and up-to-date best practices for school bus operation and child safety.
Expands instructor training and resources. Instructors delivering the pre-licensing course must undergo additional training to competently teach the new school bus safety component, and updated instructional handbooks will be provided—raising the quality and consistency of driver education statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add School Bus Safety Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S2960B
- Advanced to third reading cal.375
- Reported
- Print number 605a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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.
Add School Bus Safety Education
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Anna Kaplan
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
605--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to adding a "School Bus Safety" awareness component to the pre-licensing driver's education course
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) and paragraphs (b) and (d) of subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 355 of the laws of 2017, are amended and a new paragraph (c-4) is added to read as follows:
(i) Upon submission of an application for a driver's license, the applicant shall be required to take and pass a test, or submit evidence of passage of a test, with respect to the laws relating to traffic, the laws relating to driving while ability is impaired and while intoxicated, under the overpowering influence of "Road Rage", "Work Zone Safety" awareness and "Motorcycle Safety" awareness as defined by the commissioner, "School Bus Safety" awareness, the law relating to exercising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing authorized emergency vehicle or hazard vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter, the ability to read and comprehend traffic signs and symbols and such other matters as the commissioner may prescribe, and to satisfactorily complete a course prescribed by the commissioner of not less than four hours and not more than five hours, consisting of classroom driver training and highway safety instruction or the equivalent thereof. Such test shall include at least seven written questions concerning the effects of consumption of alcohol or drugs on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial consequences resulting from violations of section eleven
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04788-06-9
A. 605--A 2
hundred ninety-two of this chapter, prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such test shall include one or more written questions concerning the devastating effects of "Road Rage" on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the legal and financial consequences resulting from assaulting, threatening or interfering with the lawful conduct of another person legally using the roadway. Such test shall include one or more questions concerning the potential dangers to persons and equipment resulting from the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle in a work zone. Such test may include one or more questions concerning motorcycle safety. Such test may include one or more questions concerning the law for exercising due care to avoid colliding with a parked, stopped or standing vehicle pursuant to section eleven hundred forty-four-a of this chapter. Such test may include one or more questions concerning school bus safety. Such test shall be administered by the commissioner. The commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a vision test and a test for color blindness. Upon passage of the vision test, the application may be accepted and the application fee shall be payable.
(b) Upon successful completion of the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this subdivision which shall include an alcohol and drug education component as described in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, a "Road Rage" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-1) of this subdivision and a "Work Zone Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-2) of this subdivision, [and] a "Motorcycle Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-3) of this subdivision, and a "School Bus Safety" awareness component as described in paragraph (c-4) of this subdivision the commissioner shall cause the applicant to take a road test in a representative vehicle of a type prescribed by the commissioner which shall be appropriate to the type of license for which application is made, except that the commissioner may waive the road test requirements for certain classes of applicants. The commissioner shall have the power to establish a program to allow persons other than employees of the department to conduct road tests in representative vehicles when such tests are required for applicants to obtain a class A, B or C license. If she chooses to do so, she shall set forth her reasons in writing and conduct a public hearing on the matter. She shall only establish such a program after holding the public hearing.
(c-4) "School Bus Safety" awareness component. (i) The commissioner shall provide in the pre-licensing course, set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision, a mandatory component in "School Bus Safety" awareness education as a prerequisite for obtaining a license to operate a motor vehicle. The purpose of the component is to educate prospective licensees on the dangers of passing a school bus in violation of section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter, to reduce the number of such incidents, and to promote school bus safety.
(ii) The commissioner shall establish a curriculum for the "School Bus Safety" awareness component which shall include, but shall not be limited to, an overview of traffic laws governing overtaking and passing school buses, including but not limited to section eleven hundred seventy-one and section eleven hundred seventy-four of this chapter.
(iii) In developing such curriculum, the commissioner shall consult with the commissioner of transportation.
(d) The commissioner shall make available for distribution upon registration at each location where the pre-licensing course will be given, instructional handbooks outlining the content of the entire curriculum of the pre-licensing course including the information required to be
A. 605--A 3
included in the course pursuant to paragraphs (c), (c-1), (c-2) [and], (c-3) and (c-4) of this subdivision. The commissioner shall also provide for the additional training of the instructors necessary for the competent instruction of the alcohol and drug education, "Road Rage" awareness, "Work Zone Safety" awareness [and], "Motorcycle Safety" awareness and "School Bus Safety" awareness subject matters of the pre-licensing course.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. 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.
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.