What's happening
This bill prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders from becoming or remaining bus drivers in New York State.
Why it matters
Increases Child Safety and Public Trust. By explicitly prohibiting individuals who are required to register as sex offenders from driving buses, this law aims to strengthen protections for children and other vulnerable populations who rely on public and school transportation.
Permanent Disqualification. The bill establishes a lifetime ban—meaning those convicted of qualifying offenses can never become or remain a bus driver, regardless of when their conviction occurred, which closes potential loopholes in current hiring or retention practices.
Uniform Standards Across New York. The amendment ensures that all bus driver employers (public and private) must follow the same strict screening rules, reducing inconsistencies and potential risks across different districts and companies.
Proactive Regulatory Authority. The law allows the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to immediately update rules and regulations, ensuring that the new safety requirements are implemented efficiently and without delay.
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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1309
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting sex offenders from being bus drivers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 509-cc of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (iv) to read as follows:
(iv) has been convicted of any offense for which registration as a sex offender is required pursuant to article six-C of the correction law, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary; or
§ 2. Subdivision 2 of section 509-cc of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) permanently, if that person has been convicted of any offense for which registration as a sex offender is required pursuant to article six-C of the correction law, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the commissioner of motor vehicles may add, amend, or repeal any rule or regulation necessary to timely implement the provisions of this act on its effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06801-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting sex offenders from being bus drivers
Purpose
To prohibit sex offenders from being bus drivers.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends paragraph (a) of subdivision I of section 509-cc of the vehicle and traffic law to permanently ban anyone who has been convicted of any offense that requires registration as a sex offender from being employed as a school bus driver.
Section 2: Amends subdivision 2 of section 509-cc of the vehicle and traffic law to permanently ban anyone who has been convicted of any offense that requires registration as a sex offender from being employed as a school bus driver.
Section 3: Establishes the effective date.
Justification
Although many convictions which require registration as a sex offender result in a permanent or temporary ban from being employed as a school bus driver, it is unconscionable that someone convicted of any crime serious enough to warrant registration as a sex offender could poten- tially be allowed to drive our children. Crimes such as third degree rape currently only warrant a five-year ban from being employed as a school driver, but the risk of recidivism for these crimes is too high to risk the safety of our children and students at any point.
Fortunately, most schools go above and beyond to ensure sex offenders do not gain access to students by their own initiative. However, loopholes should not exist that could allow someone who has registered as a sex offender to become a school bus driver anywhere in the state. This legislation serves to remove such loopholes and codify this prohibition in state law, rather than leaving it up to individual school districts.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.6173 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law. Effectively immediately, the commissioner of motor vehicles may add, amend, or repeal any rule or regulation neces- sary to timely implement the provisions of this act on its effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.