S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  5834

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 20, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. McKEVITT, ERRIGO, BALL, WALKER, GIGLIO, ALFANO,
  BARRA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BURLING, CALHOUN, McDONOUGH --
  read once and referred to the Committee on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring school buses
  to display a toll free number for reporting an improper  operation  of
  such school bus

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 3623 of the education law is amended  by  adding  a
new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
  3.  A  TOLL  FREE NUMBER WHICH MAY BE CONTACTED TO REPORT THE IMPROPER
OPERATION OF A SCHOOL BUS SHALL BE CONSPICUOUSLY DISPLAYED ON THE  EXTE-
RIOR  OF  EVERY  SCHOOL  BUS.  THE COMMISSIONER IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES SHALL  PROMULGATE  REGULATIONS  REGARDING
THE  SIZE  AND  LOCATION  OF SUCH NUMBER. SUCH TOLL FREE NUMBER SHALL BE
ESTABLISHED, OPERATED AND FUNDED BY THE  DEPARTMENT.  IN  ADDITION,  THE
COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ESTABLISH  A  PROCEDURE  WHEREBY  SUCH  REPORTS ARE
FORWARDED TO THE APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS WITHIN
A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME.
  S 2. The commissioner of education in consultation  with  the  commis-
sioner  of  motor  vehicles  shall prepare a report and submit it to the
governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker  of  the
assembly  by  December  31,  2009  and  on December thirty-first of each
succeeding year.  Such report shall contain an assessment of the  impact
on  safety  of  requiring  a  toll free number to be displayed on school
buses in accordance with the provisions of this act and specific  recom-
mendations to increase school bus safety.
  S  3.  Subparagraphs  10  and  11  of  paragraph e of subdivision 1 of
section 3623-a of the education law, as added by chapter 474 of the laws
of 1996, are amended to read as follows:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD09005-01-9

              

A. 5834                             2

  (10) the consideration for the contract  or  contracts  made  for  the
purpose  of providing transportation by horse-drawn vehicle or vehicles,
if any school district shall be required to provide such transportation;
[and]
  (11)  TOLL  FREE NUMBERS DISPLAYED ON THE EXTERIOR OF EVERY SCHOOL BUS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPORTING IMPROPER OPERATION OF A SCHOOL BUS; AND
  (12) other expenses for district operated transportation  systems,  as
approved pursuant to regulations of the commissioner.
  S 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it  shall have become a law, except that any rules or regulations neces-
sary for the timely implementation of this act  on  its  effective  date
shall be promulgated on or before such date.