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Advocacy - Doing our Part to Keep our Children Safe

NYAPT has engaged in advocacy for student and school bus safety for many years. We are proud of our impact on many key laws and regulations that govern our school transportation in New York. We believe our efforts help to keep our children and our school bus fleets safe and secure.

As professionals, we accept the responsibility for advocating before and educating public officials objectively and honestly about the needs of school transportation. We take our role as advocates very seriously. The safety and lives of our children are at stake. We are grateful for the work of our Legislative Committee and the Board of Directors in developing our public advocacy positions.

We are aware of the need to identify and execute measures that will make our operations ever more efficient without compromising safety. Accordingly, our advocacy efforts include recommendations that enhance performance, accountability and efficiency .

Below are current articles of legislative activity, followed by key documents that reflect our positions on key issues and key source documents for our members to use. These documents begin with our overall Legislative Agenda, which frames our efforts in the coming year.

APPORTIONMENT OF STATE AID FOR COVID-19 CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS

This bill was signed by Governor Cuomo on Wednesday June 17, 2020.

BILL NUMBER: S7996b

SPONSOR: CARLUCCI

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:

Provides that school districts are entitled to an apportionment of state aid for the closure of schools in response to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 for the 2019-20 school year.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends Subdivision 7 of section 3604 of the education law, as amended by chapter 605 of the laws of 2019, as it relates to providing school districts an apportionment of state aid for the closure of schools in response to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Section two of the bill sets the effective date.

Read the bill in its entirety here: Bill Number S7996b

OPPOSITION LETTER TO S.7278 by Senator Ritchie

NYAPT has issued an opposition letter to a bill (S.7278 by Senator Ritchie) that would require school districts to provide driver record information to parents. A copy of that letter is linked below.

s7278 Ritchie Memo in Opposition Final.pdf

INSTALLATION OF LAP/SHOULDER BELTS STATEMENT

On January 20, 2019, NYAPT adopted a statement calling for the installation of lap/shoulder belts in buses manufactured on or after September 1, 2022. At the NYAPT June 2020 Board meeting, the NYAPT Board approved an amendment to the NYAPT statement on three-point lap shoulder belts for New York school buses, amending the implementation date to September 1, 2025.

Read the full statement here: NYAPT Seat Belt Statement 652020.pdf

GETTING TO KNOW YOU!

This year has seen the appointment of new chairs and ranking members for each of the major committees with which we interact on a regular basis. See the links below to read brief biographies and backgrounds on these chairs and ranking minority members.

Senator Timothy Kennedy, Chair, Senate Transportation Committee

https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/timothy-m-kennedy/about

Senator Joseph Robach, Ranking Minority, Senate Transportation Committee

https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/joseph-e-robach/about

Senator Shelley Mayer, Chair, Senate Education Committee

https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/shelley-b-mayer/about

Senator Betty Little, Ranking Minority, Senate Education Committee

https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/betty-little/about

Assemblyman William Magnarelli, Chair, Assembly Transportation Committee

https://nyassembly.gov/mem/William-B-Magnarelli/bio/

Assemblyman David McDonough, Ranking Minority, Assembly Transportation Committee

https://nyassembly.gov/mem/David-G-McDonough/bio/

Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Chair, Assembly Education Committee

https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-Benedetto/bio/

Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, Ranking Minority, Assembly Education Committee

https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Mary-Beth-Walsh/bio/

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES 2019-2020

The New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) will advocate for the following school transportation priorities before the Governor, the State Legislature, and the Board of Regents, for consideration and action in the 2019-2020 State Budget:

Continue to Provide Sufficient Funding for School Transportation

NYAPT urges that the State continue the current ‘expense-based’ approach to school transportation aid in the absence of any viable alternatives at this time. Under this funding approach, the State reimburses districts for the costs of transportation at levels between 6.5% and 90% of the actual costs, depending upon the wealth factors of the district. In recent years, school districts have taken significant steps to become even more efficient and the expense-based approach is working as it was intended. We would urge the continuation of ‘expense-based’ aid for school transportation which recognizes the volatility of transportation costs to districts and taxpayers.

Provide Funding in Support of Transportation Services for Universal Pre-Kindergarten Students

NYAPT strongly recommends that funds be appropriated in the State budget to support the delivery of transportation services for students enrolled in Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs. It has been several years since, the State enacted Chapter 244 of the Laws of 2012 that allows school districts to provide “Pre-K” transportation, but places the burden for paying for that transportation entirely on the school districts. These many years later, this needs to be corrected. This can be accomplished simply by including transportation of Pre-Kindergarten students as eligible costs.

In addition to the provision of funding, we would recommend that the State engage in a thorough discussion about the issues related to safely and efficiently transporting children to the Pre-K programs. It is important that guidelines be formulated to ensure the safety of these younger students and to ensure the capacity of our school districts and transportation providers to transport them safely and within budget realities. These include issues and topics such as the need for attendants, parent engagement, special equipment, seat belts, driver training and others. NYAPT has adopted a policy paper on this subject and we are available to discuss its contents as needed.

Allow Expenditures for School Bus Monitors to Be Eligible for Transportation Aid Reimbursement

NYAPT recommends that the State allow Transportation Aid reimbursement for costs related to employing School Bus Monitors (aides, matrons) on school buses. The need has increased in reference to managing student behaviors and bullying on school buses. As the State begins to advance early childhood education and expand Pre-Kindergarten programs, there will be an increased need for an additional adult aboard our school buses.

Currently, only the costs for those individuals employed as ‘attendants’ on school buses to assist and support the transportation of students with disabilities (pursuant to an IEP) are eligible for Transportation Aid reimbursement. It is time to include monitors in the Transportation Aid eligibility category as well.

Provide Funding for the School Bus Driver Training Program at $400,000 annually

NYAPT has since 1997 supported the appropriation of funds in the Education Department budget for support of the Comprehensive School Bus Driver Training program. This fund has been supported at a level of $400,000 over these past 17 years. NYAPT strongly supports this program. This program provides safety training to the State's 50,000+ school bus drivers. The results of which is a exceptional school bus transportation safety record.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2019-2020

Criminal Trespass and Security on a School Bus

NYAPT will support legislation that will establish a crime of criminal trespass on a school bus to protect our drivers, our students and our property.

School bus safety extends beyond the usual concepts of driving safely and loading safely. In recent years, we have witnessed numerous incidents of individuals boarding school buses and causing problems including violent acts against students and drivers alike. In one dramatic situation, a school bus driver was shot and killed on the bus while defending his student riders.

In New York, dozens of such situations have been experienced aboard school buses. It is unacceptable that parents or other individuals would take it on themselves to board a bus and attack or verbally abuse a driver entrusted with the safety of the children or even the children riding on the bus. NYAPT believes the same legal protections afforded the school building should apply to the school bus as well.

Mandate Relief

Moving children from their homes to their school buildings and to other educational services is an expensive proposition. The cost of school bus transportation is is often increased by state mandates as well as unnecessary restrictions that affect operating efficiency. NYAPT has for several years advocated for numerous steps that could assist school districts and operators in reducing or controlling costs and we will continue to advocate for these kinds of measures in the coming year. The State has for many years encouraged school districts to share services with other school districts or municipal entities. To that end, NYAPT will support legislation that will remove financial penalties for “shared services” among school districts for transportation efficiencies.

Passing Stopped School Bus Legislation

NYAPT will advocate for passage of related enforcement, operational and education-related legislation that would form a more comprehensive response to the troubling trends of illegal passing:

Support creation of a dedicated education fund utilizing fines from 1174 convictions
Support legislation to establish a crime of vehicular homicide for instances where the death of a child is caused by a motorist while in the act of illegally passing a stopped school bus
Requires Drivers Education course for are convicted multiple times for illegally passing a stopped school bus
Removing or Revising the Divided Highway Elements of Section 1174

Other School Transportation Positions

NYAPT will support legislation that will amend Section 509(cc) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to update the inventory of disqualifying crimes for school bus drivers to ensure the safety of our children
NYAPT opposes legislation related to the mandatory use of ignition interlock systems.
NYAPT will support legislation that removes the 55 mph speed limit from Education Law.
NYAPT will advocate to support proper State Transportation Director operations.

2020 NYAPT Legislative and Budget Priorities Document

2020 NYAPT Legislative Agenda.pdf

2020 Budget Priorities.pdf

Testimony Provided to Joint Legislative Committee on Education

Testimony Joint Hearing Education 2020 21 Budget .pdf

For additional information contact:

David Christopher

Executive Director

New York Association for Pupil Transportation

518-463-4937

dave@nyapt.org

Andre Claridge