S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  7531

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 10, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. McKEVITT -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee 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, 2011  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:
  (10)  the  consideration  for  the  contract or contracts made for the
purpose of providing transportation by horse-drawn vehicle or  vehicles,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11066-01-1
              

A. 7531                             2

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.