BILL NUMBER: S1842

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to enabling high school
students to use public transportation to ride to and from school at no
charge

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation would ensure that a student who wishes to attend a high
school of their choice anywhere in New York State be able to attend
without the high cost of public transportation creating a financial
barrier.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends subdivision 1 of section 3635 of the Education Law to
require that all high school students shall be entitled to the use of
public transportation without charge for one daily round-trip ride on a
              

school day to and from their home to their school. School districts
shall provide suitable ID cards to each student in order for the public
transit system to be able to determine each student's entitlement to
this benefit.

Section 2: Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State boasts some of the most academically competitive high
schools in the country. Students accepted to these institutions are some
of the most talented and hardworking youth in the nation, and they come
from all across the state to attend these establishments in hopes of
bettering their futures and receiving a high quality education.

Unfortunately, students - particularly those from low and middle-income
households are often unable to attend these schools, even if they excel
academically, because the high costs of public transportation to and
from these institutions can be exorbitant and exceed most families'
budgets. For example, a student who lives in Poughkeepsie NY and wants
to attend a highly acclaimed school in Manhattan must pay $3,000 a year
at Metro-North's current student discount rate. Furthermore when in
Manhattan there is an additional cost for public transportation to reach
the school. This presents a barrier that some families cannot overcome.

This bill will require that any public mass transit corporation that
receives New York State funding, waive all expenses for transportation
when traveling to and from school.

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that children who work hard in
their studies and by their initiative seek out the best education they
can receive, are rewarded for their efforts by taking down any financial
barrier caused by the high cost of public transportation going to and
from school.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Senate
2020 - S3160 Referred to Education

Assembly:

2017: A2447 - Referred to Education

2018: A2447 - Referred to Education

2020: A7101 - Referred to Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.