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The New York State Senate today passed a series school bus bills that will ensure child safety and enhanced communication.

A bill was passed, sponsored by Senator John Bonacic, that increases the penalties for passing a stopped school bus (S.3099A).  The legislation would impose a sixty day suspension of a driver’s license if convicted of passing a stopped school bus two or more times.

This legislation would make the penalties for passing a stopped school bus multiple times the same as penalties for drivers convicted of speeding in a construction zone two or more times.

Assemblymember Dennis Gabryszak (D-Cheektowaga) announced the Assembly passed a bill he authored that would amend the Criminal Procedure Law to assist a victim of false financial practice, helping them remedy the fraudulent financial claim that the victim is indebted or obligated to a defendant, or secured party, in a criminal action (A.3457)“When someone makes a false financial claim against you, it can cause excessive and unfair damage to your credit rating,” Assemblymember Gabryszak said. “We cannot allow victims of fraudulent financial statements to go unprotected with nowhere to turn.

Throughout the redistricting process, my priority has been to ensure that the communities of Buffalo and Western New York maintain strong representation in Albany. In the past, downstate political insiders with agendas that conflict with the best interests of our communities have been allowed to influence the redistricting process, often resulting in Western New York being left with gerrymandered districts with peculiar boundaries.   Having attended the public comment portion of the redistricting process, I know that many individuals expressed their desire to unite communities of interest in the City of Tonawanda, the West Side of Buffalo and Niagara County. The commission clearly heard those concerns and acted accordingly by reconnecting those communities.

New York State Senator Grisanti was named the winner of the 2012 William B. Hoyt Environmental Excellence Award for his outstanding work on behalf of conservation and the environment. The full award letter can be viewed by clicking here.

“Typically we present this Award to members of the legislature who had a long tenure of fighting for change, but your early dedication to upholding the New York’s State’s environmental laws and your visionary approach to the state’s most pressing conservation issues make you stand out as a most deserving 2012 Hoyt Award Recipient,” said Audubon Council of New York State in the award letter.