|
|
 |
|
|
Tuesday, May 15, 2001
The New York State Senate today passed a comprehensive legislative package designed to improve school bus safety. The bills, passed during National Transportation Week, would protect children from injury aboard school buses by requiring stricter oversight of bus drivers and attendants and requiring other safety measures.
"National Transportation Week is a time to improve our awareness of safety issues that may threaten the safety of New York travelers--especially children traveling to and from school," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno. "These bills will help ensure that our children ride on safe school buses with qualified and conscientious drivers."
This legislative package is a result of the efforts of the Senate Majority School Bus Safety Task Force that is Co-Chaired by Senate Education Committee Chairman John R. Kuhl (R-C, Hammondsport) and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Caesar Trunzo (R, Brentwood). The Task Force conducted hearings and public forums across the state to solicit information and advice from parents, educators and school bus operators and identify priority areas for legislative action.
"Getting children to school and back home safely at the end of the day is one of the fundamental responsibilities of our educational system," said Senator Kuhl. "Parents should not have to worry about a child on a school bus. The New York State Senate has strongly and successfully promoted school bus safety over the years. This legislative package combined with the efforts of our Task Force on School Bus Safety will move us farther down the road to improved safety for our children, which must be our ultimate goal."
"It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of each one of the two million children that ride school buses on New York highways every school day," said Senator Trunzo. "From improving the quality of our school bus drivers to requiring a study examining the effects of mandatory seat belt use, these bills will certainly build upon New York's already strong record of school bus safety."
Last year, two school bus safety bills were enacted into law: legislation sponsored by Senator John Marchi (R, Staten Island) that prohibits children from standing on school buses; and a measure sponsored by Senator Trunzo to increase fines for bus companies that fail to comply with laws relating to school bus driver qualifications.
Earlier this year, the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senator Dale Volker (R-C, Depew) that would make it crime to enter or remain on a bus for no reason or without authority.
The following bills are designed to improve the quality of school-bus drivers, keep unsafe drivers from getting behind the wheel, and introduce additional safety measures. They would:
Require school bus drivers involved in accidents where students are injured to submit to a breath test (S.870 - McGee). Under the provisions of this bill, each time a school bus transporting pupils is involved in an accident, and there is a death or a serious physical injury, the drivers of all vehicles involved in the accident are required to submit to a breath test administered by a police officer.
"I'm very glad this bill has passed the Senate," said Senator Patricia McGee (R-C, Franklinville). "The state has a fundamental responsibility to transport our children in a safe and effective way. When it comes to young people's safety, we need to ensure that everything that can be done is being done."
Prohibit an individual whose license is suspended for a conviction of DWI or for driving under the influence of drugs from driving a school bus (S.704 - Goodman). Currently, when an individual is convicted for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he is forbidden by the courts from driving his own car, but not a school bus. This bill would not allow these individuals to drive school buses.
"This important legislation will provide added protection for our children going to and from school," said Senator Roy M. Goodman (R, Manhattan). "No one with a suspended license should be in the driver's seat of a school bus. This will assure that safety will come first for our most precious resource--our kids."
Require mandatory revocation of a school bus driver's license for drivers who have tested positive on a random drug or alcohol test (S.2372 - Bruno). This bill would permanently disqualify school bus drivers who have tested positive for drug or alcohol use from ever driving a school bus.
Require criminal checks for all school bus attendants (S. 2376 - Fuschillo). This bill would strengthen the qualification procedures for school bus attendants and would require fingerprinting and a criminal history check. The background check procedure would be the same one currently in place for school bus drivers.
Require a school vehicle transporting a disabled student to carry relevant personal information about the student (S.878 - Fuschillo). This bill would require that every bus used to transport disabled children should maintain certain information such as: the student's name, address and phone number; the nature of the child's disability; emergency health care information and emergency contact information.
"We must make sure that all of our children get the attention and care that they need while they riding school buses," said Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (R-C, Merrick). "This legislation will make sure that disabled students will get the proper care in case of an emergency. Moreover we can now be assured that our children will not have contact with drivers and attendants that have a history of criminal acts."
Require a study on whether seat belt use should be mandatory (S.1238 - Trunzo). This bill would require the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to study the effects of mandating seat belt use on school buses and to compare New York school districts that mandate use compared to those that do not. This bill will require the Committee to make a recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1.
Mandate a refresher course for all school bus drivers (S.760-Trunzo). This bill would require every school bus driver in the state to complete two hours of continuing instruction in school bus safety practices at least twice a year. The curriculum for the instruction shall be developed by the Comprehensive School Bus Driver Safety Training Council and shall include instruction on proper post trip inspections to ensure that children are not mistakenly left on board.
Subject all bus drivers to the same standards (S. 2373-A Bruno). This bill would expand current driver qualifications to apply to all drivers who are employed for school transportation purposes, regardless of the size of the bus. It would apply all of the standards required for school bus drivers to individuals employed by a motor carrier that operates small buses when driving children to and from kindergarten or school.
Require one statutory definition of "school" and "school bus" (S.779 - Trunzo). This bill would require DOT, DMV and SED to develop a uniform definition of "school bus" to eradicate inconsistencies in current law which led to confusion regarding equipment and bus driver standards.
The bills were sent to the Assembly.
[BIOGRAPHY] [DISTRICT MAP] [PHOTO GALLERY] [LEGISLATION] [CONSTITUENT SERVICES] [YOUR OPINION COUNTS] [GUESTBOOK] [PRIVACY POLICY] [SENATE INSIDER] [CONTACT INFO] [HOME/NEWS]