What's happening
This bill expands the list of criminal offenses that permanently disqualify individuals from being school bus drivers in New York.
Why it matters
Wider range of serious offenses now lead to permanent bans. The bill adds several violent and sexual offenses—including reckless assault of a child, sexual abuse, and promoting obscene material to minors—to the list of crimes that result in a lifetime ban from being a school bus driver, closing loopholes where individuals convicted of these crimes could previously return after a set period.
Stronger focus on protecting children. By specifically adding crimes like sexual misconduct, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal sexual acts, the legislation prioritizes the safety of children in school transportation settings, acknowledging the heightened risk posed by individuals with these convictions.
Eliminates possibility of delayed eligibility for certain crimes. Some offenses (like sexual abuse in the third degree and endangering the welfare of a child) that previously led to only a five-year disqualification will now result in a permanent ban, ensuring that individuals with these backgrounds cannot return to driving a school bus after any waiting period.
Signal to employers and the public. The changes underscore a zero-tolerance stance on child-related and sexual offenses for school bus drivers, potentially reassuring parents and school districts while increasing the diligence required during background checks.
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Ban Offenders From Bus Driving
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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
874
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the disqualification of school bus drivers for certain offenses involving children
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 509-cc of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 400 of the laws of 2011, paragraphs (a) and (b) as amended by chapter 23 of the laws of 2024 and paragraph (c) as amended by chapter 92 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
(4) (a) The offenses referred to in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision one and paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section that result in permanent disqualification shall include a conviction under sections 120.02, 120.12, 125.12, 125.13, 125.14, 125.15, 125.20, 125.21, 125.22, 125.25, 125.26, 125.27, 130.20, 130.25, 130.30, 130.35, former sections 130.45 and 130.50, sections 130.52, 130.53, 130.55, 130.60, 130.65, 130.66, 130.67, 130.70, 130.75, 130.80, 130.85, 130.90, 130.95, 130.96, 135.25, 150.20, 230.30, 230.32, 230.34, 230.34-a, 235.21, 235.22, 260.20, 260.21, 263.05, 263.10, 263.11, 263.15, 263.16 of the penal law or an attempt to commit any of the aforesaid offenses under section 110.00 of the penal law, or any offenses committed under a former section of the penal law which would constitute violations of the aforesaid sections of the penal law, or any offenses committed outside this state which would constitute violations of the aforesaid sections of the penal law.
(b) The offenses referred to in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision one and paragraph (b) of subdivision two of this section that result in permanent disqualification shall include a conviction
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03157-01-5
under sections 100.13, 105.15, 105.17, 115.08, 120.12, 120.70, 125.10, 125.11, former section 130.40, sections 130.53, [130.60,] 130.65-a, 135.20, 160.15, 220.18, 220.21, 220.39, 220.41, 220.43, 220.44, 230.25, 260.00, 265.04 of the penal law or an attempt to commit any of the aforesaid offenses under section 110.00 of the penal law, or any offenses committed under a former section of the penal law which would constitute violations of the aforesaid sections of the penal law, or any offenses committed outside this state which would constitute violations of the aforesaid sections of the penal law.
(c) The offenses referred to in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one and subparagraph (i) of paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section that result in disqualification for a period of five years shall include a conviction under sections 100.10, 105.13, 115.05, 120.03, 120.04, 120.04-a, 120.05, 120.10, 120.25, 121.12, 121.13, [125.40, 125.45, 130.20, 130.25,] 130.52, 130.55, 135.10, 135.55, 140.17, 140.25, 140.30, 145.12, 150.10, 150.15, 160.05, 160.10, 220.06, 220.09, 220.16, 220.31, 220.34, 220.60, 220.65, subdivision two of section 222.50, subdivision two of section 222.55, 230.00, 230.05, 230.06, 230.11, 230.12, 230.13, 230.19, 230.20, 235.05, 235.06, 235.07, [235.21,] 240.06, 245.00, 260.10, [subdivision two of section 260.20 and sections] 260.25, 265.02, 265.03, 265.08, 265.09, 265.10, 265.12, 265.35 of the penal law or an attempt to commit any of the aforesaid offenses under section 110.00 of the penal law, or any similar offenses committed under a former section of the penal law, or any offenses committed under a former section of the penal law which would constitute violations of the aforesaid sections of the penal law, or any offenses committed outside this state which would constitute violations of the aforesaid sections of the penal law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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