What's happening
This bill requires annual training for school bus drivers and attendants on preventing, detecting, and responding to harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
Why it matters
Expands school safety responsibilities. By mandating annual training for both bus drivers and attendants, the bill recognizes that bullying and harassment can happen during transportation—not just on school grounds—making the bus ride a safer and more supportive environment for students.
Supports vulnerable populations. The legislation specifically requires training for attendants serving students with disabilities, potentially addressing unique risks that these students face and promoting greater inclusion and protection.
Standardizes statewide practices. The bill calls for a uniform and comprehensive training program developed by the education commissioner, which could reduce variability in how bullying and discrimination are handled across districts, ensuring more consistent protection for all students.
Emphasizes proactive intervention. By focusing on discouragement, prevention, detection, and appropriate response, the bill aims to equip bus personnel not just to react to incidents, but to recognize early warning signs and foster a more positive, respectful environment.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train Bus Staff Against Bullying
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
656
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, SANTABARBARA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, COOK, GOTTFRIED, PERRY -- read once and referred 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02552-01-9
A. 656 2
discrimination as defined under article two of the education law. 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 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.