S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4683
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 24, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to  establishing  a  task
   force on safety in school transportation
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new  section  3638
 to read as follows:
   §  3638.  TASK  FORCE  ON SAFETY IN SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION. 1. THERE IS
 HEREBY CREATED A TASK FORCE WITH THE  PURPOSE  OF  PROMOTING  SAFETY  IN
 SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.
   2.  THE  TASK  FORCE SHOULD CONSIST OF EIGHTEEN MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE
 COMMISSIONER, EX OFFICIO, OR A DESIGNEE; THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTA-
 TION, EX OFFICIO, OR A DESIGNEE; THE COMMISSIONER OF THE  DEPARTMENT  OF
 MOTOR VEHICLES, EX OFFICIO, OR A DESIGNEE; THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
 TRAFFIC  SAFETY  AND  MOBILITY,  EX OFFICIO, OR A DESIGNEE; AND FOURTEEN
 MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. THE MEMBERS  APPOINTED  BY  THE
 GOVERNOR SHOULD INCLUDE: ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR;
 ONE  REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION; ONE REPRE-
 SENTATIVE OF THE EMPIRE STATE  SUPERVISORS  AND  ADMINISTRATORS  ASSOCI-
 ATION;  ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS; ONE REPRE-
 SENTATIVE  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  SCHOOL  BOARDS  ASSOCIATION;   ONE
 REPRESENTATIVE  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS
 OFFICIALS; ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL BUS  CONTRAC-
 TORS  ASSOCIATION;  ONE  REPRESENTATIVE  OF THE NEW YORK ASSOCIATION FOR
 PUPIL TRANSPORTATION; ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUTH CAMPS WHO IS A  MEMBER
 OF  THE  STATE  CAMP  ADVISORY  COUNCIL;  THREE  PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF
 STUDENTS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PARENT OF A  STUDENT  RECEIVING  SPECIAL
 EDUCATION  SERVICES;  ONE  PUBLIC  MEMBER  WHO  SHALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND
 EXPERTISE IN ENSURING SAFETY IN SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION;  AND  ONE  PUBLIC
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02194-01-7
              

 S. 4683                             2
 
 MEMBER  WHO  SHALL  BE  AN  EXPERT  ON THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE IN
 SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES.
   3.  IT  SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE TASK FORCE TO STUDY ISSUES ASSOCIATED
 WITH STUDENT SAFETY IN SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION. THE TASK FORCE SHALL:
   A. REVIEW EXISTING STATE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND PROGRAMS THAT  ADDRESS
 SCHOOL  BUS  SAFETY,  AND  MAKE  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT,
 INCLUDING ANY RECOMMENDATIONS NECESSARY TO ENSURE  THAT  THE  PEDESTRIAN
 SAFETY RECORD IS ROUTINELY REVIEWED BY AN APPROPRIATE STATE OFFICE;
   B.  EXAMINE  THE POSSIBILITY OF REQUIRING A STATE DEPARTMENT OR OFFICE
 TO CONDUCT A BIANNUAL REVIEW OF ALL ASPECTS OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY AND  TO
 ISSUE  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR ADDITIONAL ACTION OR OVERSIGHT, AS APPROPRI-
 ATE;
   C. DEVELOP A PLAN TO PHASE IN ANY SCHOOL BUS  SAFETY  MEASURES  RECOM-
 MENDED  BY  THE  TASK FORCE THROUGH RETROFITTING AND PROSPECTIVE VEHICLE
 PURCHASES, AND IDENTIFY THE  POTENTIAL  APPLICATION  OF  VEHICLE  SENSOR
 TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE SCHOOL BUS SAFETY;
   D. IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES FOR THE DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL BUS STOPS;
   E.  REVIEW  THE CURRENT SAFETY STATUS OF STUDENTS WHO WALK TO AND FROM
 SCHOOL AND IDENTIFY STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT SAFE PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIOR  BY
 STUDENTS  BETWEEN THEIR HOMES AND SCHOOLS, INCLUDING AS THEY WALK TO AND
 FROM BUS STOPS AND BOARD AND EXIT BUSES;
   F. IDENTIFY SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO BE FOLLOWED BY SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS  AND
 SCHOOL  BUS  AIDES,  INCLUDING  SAFEGUARDS  TO ENSURE THAT PROTOCOLS ARE
 FOLLOWED WHEN A SUBSTITUTE DRIVER OR SCHOOL BUS AIDE IS  ASSIGNED  TO  A
 SCHOOL BUS;
   G.  DEVELOP  RECOMMENDATIONS  TO CURB ILLEGAL PASSING OF SCHOOL BUSES;
 AND
   H. DETERMINE IF THERE  IS  A  NEED  FOR  ADDITIONAL  PUBLIC  EDUCATION
 PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE SCHOOL BUS SAFETY.
   4. ALL APPOINTMENTS TO THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE MADE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS
 OF  THE  EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.  VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF
 THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE FILLED  IN  THE  SAME  MANNER  AS  THE  ORIGINAL
 APPOINTMENTS  WERE MADE. THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL SERVE WITH-
 OUT COMPENSATION BUT MAY BE REIMBURSED, WITHIN THE LIMITS OF FUNDS  MADE
 AVAILABLE  TO  THE  TASK  FORCE,  FOR NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE
 PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   5. THE TASK FORCE SHALL ORGANIZE AS SOON  AS  IS  PRACTICAL  UPON  THE
 APPOINTMENT OF A MAJORITY OF ITS MEMBERS. THE TASK FORCE SHALL APPOINT A
 SECRETARY  WHO NEED NOT BE A MEMBER. THE TASK FORCE SHALL SELECT A CHAIR
 FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS.
   6. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE STAFF AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES  TO
 THE  TASK  FORCE. THE TASK FORCE SHALL ALSO BE ENTITLED TO CALL UPON THE
 SERVICES OF ANY STATE, COUNTY, OR MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT,  BOARD,  COMMIS-
 SION  OR  AGENCY,  AS  MAY BE AVAILABLE TO IT FOR THESE PURPOSES, AND TO
 INCUR SUCH TRAVELING AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES  AS  IT  MAY  DEEM
 NECESSARY  FOR  THE  PROPER EXECUTION OF ITS DUTIES AND AS MAY BE WITHIN
 THE LIMIT OF FUNDS APPROPRIATED OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE  TO  IT  FOR
 THESE PURPOSES. THE TASK FORCE MAY MEET AND HOLD HEARINGS AT SUCH PLACES
 AS IT SHALL DESIGNATE.
   7. THE TASK FORCE SHALL PRESENT A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMEN-
 DATIONS  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  TO THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN TWELVE
 MONTHS AFTER ITS ORGANIZATION AND SHALL CEASE TO EXIST  UPON  SUBMITTING
 SUCH REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.