NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8497

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules 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

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Sep 03, 2025	referred to rules

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7028
Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Transportation Law
Laws Affected:: Add §148, Transp L

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "in-route safety inspection for motor coach vehicles act"; establishes a framework for mandatory in-route inspections for motor coach vehicles carrying 16 or more passengers to reduce the risk of accidents and enhance operational oversight.

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8497

SPONSOR: STEC
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act amending the transportation law, in relation to establishing
in-route safety inspections for motor coach vehicles designed to carry
16 or more passengers

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To enhance passenger safety by instituting regular in-route safety
inspections for motor coach vehicles designed to transport sixteen or
more passengers, including the driver, and intended for intercity or
charter transportation.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

* Section 1: Designates the act as the "In-Route Safety Inspection for
Motor Coach Vehicles Act."

* Section 2: Articulates legislative findings and the act's purpose,

underscoring the critical need for routine safety inspections to miti-
gate risks and safeguard passengers.

* Section 3: Introduces a new section 148 to the transportation law,
encompassing:

* Subsection 1: Provides precise definitions for terms including "motor
coach vehicle" and "in-route inspection."

* Subsection 2: Imposes a requirement for motor coach vehicles to under-
go in-route inspections at designated rest areas at a minimum frequency
of once every thirty days. These inspections shall assess components
such as seat belts, lighting systems, braking mechanisms, tires, emer-
gency exits and equipment, and verify driver qualifications and adher-
ence to mandated rest periods.

*Subsection 3: Mandates the Department of Transportation to identify and
designate specific rest areas for the execution of these inspections and
to ensure the installation of appropriate signage to inform operators of
inspection obligations and locations.

* Subsection 4: Requires comprehensive documentation and submission of
all in-route inspection results to the Department, facilitating the
monitoring of compliance and the identification of safety trends.  Addi-
tionally, the Department is tasked with publishing an annual report
detailing inspection outcomes, including any identified safety
violations and the corrective measures implemented.

* Subsection 5: Establishes penalties for non-compliance with the stipu-
lated inspection requirements, which may include fines, suspension of
operating authority, or the imposition of mandated corrective action
plans, as determined by the Commissioner.

* Section 4: Specifies that the act shall become effective on the nine-
tieth day following its enactment. It also authorizes the immediate
addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary
for the act's implementation on or before its effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:

Ensuring the safety of passengers traveling by motor coach vehicles is
paramount. While motor coaches play a critical role in intercity and
charter transportation, regular in-route safety inspections are essen-
tial to mitigate potential risks associated with vehicle operation.
Implementing these inspections will enhance operational oversight,
reduce the likelihood of accidents, and bolster public confidence in
motor coach travel.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it becomes law.
Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8497
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             September 3, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  STEC  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT amending the transportation  law,  in  relation  to  establishing
   in-route safety inspections for motor coach vehicles designed to carry
   16 or more passengers

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "in-route safety inspection for motor coach vehicles act".
   §  2.  Legislative  findings  and  purpose. The legislature finds that
 ensuring the safety of passengers traveling by motor coach  vehicles  is
 essential for public safety. While motor coaches play a critical role in
 intercity  and  charter transportation, routine safety inspections while
 vehicles are in operation are necessary  to  address  safety  risks  and
 protect  passengers.  This  act  establishes  a  framework for mandatory
 in-route inspections for  motor  coach  vehicles  carrying  16  or  more
 passengers to reduce the risk of accidents and enhance operational over-
 sight.
   §  3. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 148 to
 read as follows:
   § 148. IN-ROUTE INSPECTIONS. 1. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION:
   (A) "MOTOR COACH  VEHICLE"  MEANS  A  VEHICLE  DESIGNED  TO  TRANSPORT
 SIXTEEN  OR  MORE  PASSENGERS,  INCLUDING  THE  DRIVER, AND INTENDED FOR
 INTERCITY OR CHARTER TRANSPORTATION.
   (B) "IN-ROUTE INSPECTION" MEANS A SAFETY  INSPECTION  CONDUCTED  WHILE
 THE  VEHICLE  IS  IN OPERATION, PERFORMED AT DESIGNATED REST AREAS ALONG
 STATE HIGHWAYS.
   2. MOTOR  COACH  VEHICLES  SHALL  BE  SUBJECT  TO  MANDATORY  IN-ROUTE
 INSPECTIONS  AT  DESIGNATED  REST AREAS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THIRTY DAYS.
 INSPECTIONS SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY TRAINED PERSONNEL FROM THE  DEPARTMENT

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08759-01-5
 S. 8497                             2

 
 OR  DESIGNATED SAFETY INSPECTORS. INSPECTIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT
 LIMITED TO:
   (A) FUNCTIONALITY OF ALL SEAT BELTS AND SAFETY RESTRAINTS;
   (B) OPERATIONAL STATUS OF LIGHTS, BRAKES, AND STEERING MECHANISMS;
   (C) INSPECTION OF TIRES FOR WEAR AND PROPER INFLATION;
   (D) VERIFICATION OF EMERGENCY EXITS AND EQUIPMENT; AND
   (E)  REVIEW  OF  THE  DRIVER'S QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH REST
 REQUIREMENTS.
   3. (A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL IDENTIFY AND DESIGNATE SPECIFIC REST AREAS
 ALONG MAJOR HIGHWAYS THROUGHOUT  NEW  YORK  STATE  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF
 CONDUCTING  IN-ROUTE  INSPECTIONS.  ADEQUATE  SIGNAGE SHALL BE PLACED TO
 INFORM MOTOR COACH OPERATORS OF INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS AND LOCATIONS.
   (B) THE RESULTS OF ALL IN-ROUTE  INSPECTIONS  SHALL  BE  RECORDED  AND
 SUBMITTED  TO  THE DEPARTMENT TO TRACK COMPLIANCE AND IDENTIFY TRENDS IN
 MOTOR COACH SAFETY.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  PUBLISH  AN  ANNUAL  REPORT
 DETAILING  INSPECTION  FINDINGS,  INCLUDING  ANY  SAFETY  VIOLATIONS AND
 CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TAKEN.
   4. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION SHALL RESULT IN  PENALTIES,  AS
 DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER INCLUDING:
   (A) FINES;
   (B) SUSPENSION OF OPERATING AUTHORITY; OR
   (C) MANDATED CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S8497

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Sponsored By

Daniel G. Stec

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8497 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments