NY State Senate Bill 2021-S3916A

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 28, 2022	print number 3916a
Mar 28, 2022	amend (t) and recommit to transportation
Jan 05, 2022	referred to transportation
Feb 01, 2021	referred to transportation

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2021-S3916 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3871
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1229-d, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S5172, A8245
2023-2024: S3378, S9500, A7262
2025-2026: S2112, A3566

2021-S3916 - Summary

Requires a school bus attendant or school bus monitor on all school buses transporting students in kindergarten through sixth grade to or from school or to or from any school related activity.

2021-S3916 - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S3916

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring a
school bus attendant on all school buses

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To ensure that school children are safely escorted on and off of their
school buses by an adult school bus attendant. Such attendants will
accompany these students on and off of the school bus to ensure that
students are visible as they cross the road, are a safe distance from
the bus or any other motor vehicles, and make it safely out of the road.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This legislation will require a school bus driver assistant to be on all
school buses operating in New York State, while transporting students in
grades K-6, in order to ensure that school children safely reach their

destination. As the bus comes to the stop the school bus driver assist-
ant will exit the bus with the child or children and help them safely
cross the street. Such assistant will then re-board the bus and follow
the same routine at each stop along the route.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
the greatest risk for children who ride a school bus to and from school
is when they approach the bus and when they exit the bus.  The NHTSA
also notes that while every state in America has a law making it illegal
to pass a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and
stop-arm extended to load or unload students, many motorists simply
choose to ignore the law.

It is estimated that in New York State, 50,000 motor vehicles illegally
pass school buses every day. While education and enforcements efforts
can help curb these behaviors, this staggering figure clearly under-
scores the need for additional actions to ensure that our school chil-
dren make it to school and back home safely.  Recently, a more disturb-
ing trend has emerged whereby motorists have been passing stopped buses
on the shoulder of the road - where children enter and exit the bus.

This legislation will help prevent further injuries and fatalities from
occurring by ensuring that a responsible adult is helping these students
on an off the bus and is looking out for dangerous drivers who choose to
disregard the law by passing a stopped school bus.  School bus attend-
ants will also be able to ensure the safety of all students who ride the
bus by monitoring students and making sure they are behaving and abiding
by the rules. Having an attendant on board every school bus that is
transporting children will ensure the safety and the well-being of our
children.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-2020: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2022

2021-S3916 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3916
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 1, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring  a
   school bus attendant on all school buses
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 1229-d of the vehicle and  traffic
 law,  as added by chapter 675 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (1) (A) EVERY SCHOOL BUS OPERATING IN THIS STATE, WHICH IS  TRANSPORT-
 ING STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE TO OR FROM SCHOOL OR TO
 OR  FROM  ANY SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITY, SHALL HAVE A SCHOOL BUS ATTENDANT
 ON BOARD.
   (B) THE SCHOOL BUS ATTENDANT REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION SHALL, IN  ADDI-
 TION  TO  KEEPING  ORDER  ON  THE BUS, ASSIST ANY CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF
 THIRTEEN, OR ANY STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY WITH BOARDING AND LEAVING THE
 BUS AND BY CROSSING THE STREET WITH THE CHILD WHERE NECESSARY.
   (C) "School bus attendant" shall mean a person employed or  authorized
 by a school district to ride on a school bus as defined in paragraph (a)
 of  subdivision  one  of section five hundred nine-a of this chapter for
 the purpose of  maintaining  order  [or]  AND  rendering  assistance  to
 [pupils with special needs] STUDENTS, INCLUDING ANY STUDENT WITH A DISA-
 BILITY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07441-01-1

co-Sponsors

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3871
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1229-d, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S5172, A8245
2023-2024: S3378, S9500, A7262
2025-2026: S2112, A3566

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires a school bus attendant or school bus monitor on all school buses transporting students in kindergarten through sixth grade to or from school or to or from any school related activity.

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S3916A

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring a
school bus attendant or school bus monitor on all school buses

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To ensure that school children are safely escorted on and off of their
school buses by an adult school bus attendant or monitor. Such attend-
ants or monitors will accompany these students on and off of the school
bus to ensure that students are visible as they cross the road, are a
safe distance from the bus or any other motor vehicles, and make it
safely out of the road.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This legislation will require a school bus driver assistant to be on all
school buses operating in New York State, while transporting students in
grades K-6, in order to ensure that school children safely reach their

destination. As the bus comes to the stop the school bus driver assist-
ant or monitor will exit the bus with the child or children and help
them safely cross the street. Such assistant will then re-board the bus
and follow the same routine at each stop along the route.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
the greatest risk for children who ride a school bus to and from school
is when they approach the bus and when they exit the bus.  The NHTSA
also notes that while every state in America has a law making it illegal
to pass a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and
stop-arm extended to load or unload students, many motorists simply
choose to ignore the law.

It is estimated that in New York State, 50,000 motor vehicles illegally
pass school buses every day. While education and enforcements efforts
can help curb these behaviors, this staggering figure clearly under-
scores the need for additional actions to ensure that our school chil-
dren make it to school and back home safely.  Recently, a more disturb-
ing trend has emerged whereby motorists have been passing stopped buses
on the shoulder of the road - where children enter and exit the bus.

This legislation will help prevent further injuries and fatalities from
occurring by ensuring that a responsible adult is helping these students
on an off the bus and is looking out for dangerous drivers who choose to
disregard the law by passing a stopped school bus.  School bus attend-
ants or monitors will also be able to ensure the safety of all students
who ride the bus by monitoring students and making sure they are behav-
ing and abiding by the rules. Having an attendant on board every school
bus that is transporting children will ensure the safety and the well-
being of our children.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-2020: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2022

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  3916--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 1, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. KENNEDY, MANNION -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation --
   recommitted to the Committee  on  Transportation  in  accordance  with
   Senate  Rule  6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring  a
   school bus attendant or school bus monitor on all school buses
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 1229-d of the vehicle and  traffic
 law,  as added by chapter 675 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (1) (A) EVERY SCHOOL BUS OPERATING IN THIS STATE, WHICH IS  TRANSPORT-
 ING STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE TO OR FROM SCHOOL OR TO
 OR  FROM  ANY  SCHOOL  RELATED  ACTIVITY, SHALL HAVE EITHER A SCHOOL BUS
 ATTENDANT OR SCHOOL BUS MONITOR ON BOARD.
   (B) THE SCHOOL BUS ATTENDANT REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION SHALL, IN  ADDI-
 TION  TO  KEEPING  ORDER  ON  THE BUS, ASSIST ANY CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF
 THIRTEEN, OR ANY STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY WITH BOARDING AND LEAVING THE
 BUS AND BY CROSSING THE STREET WITH THE CHILD WHERE NECESSARY.
   (C) "School bus attendant" shall mean a person employed or  authorized
 by a school district to ride on a school bus as defined in paragraph (a)
 of  subdivision  one  of section five hundred nine-a of this chapter for
 the purpose of  maintaining  order  [or]  AND  rendering  assistance  to
 [pupils with special needs] STUDENTS, INCLUDING ANY STUDENT WITH A DISA-
 BILITY.
   (D)  "SCHOOL BUS MONITOR" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON EMPLOYED OR AUTHORIZED
 BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO RIDE ON A SCHOOL BUS AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (A)
 OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION FIVE HUNDRED NINE-A OF  THIS  CHAPTER  FOR
 THE  PURPOSE OF ASSISTING CHILDREN TO SAFELY EMBARK AND DISEMBARK FROM A
 SCHOOL BUS WHICH IS OWNED, LEASED OR CONTRACTED FOR BY A  PUBLIC  SCHOOL
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07441-04-2

 S. 3916--A                          2
 
 DISTRICT  OR  BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL  SERVICES, AND FOR THE
 PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THE  SCHOOL  BUS  DRIVER  WITH  MAINTAINING  PROPER
 STUDENT BEHAVIOR ON SUCH SCHOOL BUS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Find your Senator and share your views on important issues.

Do you support this bill?

Senate Bill S3916A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2021-S3916 - Details

2021-S3916 - Summary

2021-S3916 - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3916 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Do you support this bill?

Get Status Alerts for 2021-S3916A

Senate Bill S3916A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Timothy M. Kennedy

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

John W. Mannion

2021-S3916 - Details

2021-S3916 - Summary

2021-S3916 - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3916 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

John W. Mannion

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3916A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments