Industry News and Agency Information

Posted 9/7/2022 (from Direct Email Blast to All Members dated 9/6/2022)

MESSAGE FROM NYS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

NYAPT has long advocated for more testing capacity at DMV to allow for more prompt CDL road test appointments.  This past year, NYAPT advocated for a third party testing program to be approved in New York to allow bus operators to provide CDL testing in house.   This is permitted by FMCSA (49 CFR 383.75) under certain conditions.

Over the past months, several NYAPT members have piloted third party testing in their respective operations.  We are pleased to share that DMV has announced that they are now accepting applications for interested bus operators to become third party testing sites.   

We thank NYS DMV for listening to the industry and providing this option for school districts who wish to participate in the new third party testing program.  

From New York DMV: 

"The NYS Department of Motor Vehicles is pleased to announce that the 3^rd Party CDL Testing program is now accepting applications from interested entities.  This new program will allow qualified third parties to conduct the CDL skills tests for applicants.  The agents will be able to conduct the skills tests in representative vehicles for employees or customers wishing to obtain a class A, B, or C license. 

This valuable new program helps address the CDL driver shortage by expanding the capacity of testing locations and reducing the time to get qualified CDL drivers on the road.  All third party entities wishing to participate in the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Third Party CDL Testing program are encouraged to apply using our online application at https://dmv.ny.gov/dmv/third-party-cdl-testing-program. 

Any questions or for additional information, please contact NYS DMV Third Party Testing Unit at cdlthirdpartytesting@dmv.ny.gov."

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted 6/30/2022

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

POSTED 01/19/2022 from Advocacy Liaison:

The New York State Division of Budget posted the 2022-23 Executive Budget Documents:

Link to Budget Page:

https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy23/ex/index.html

Link to Legislation:

https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy23/ex/fy23bills.html

Article VII Summary:

https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy23/ex/artvii/legislation-required-for-budget-fy23.pdf

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

POSTED 01/19/2022 from NYAPT News & Notes:

2223schoolrun.pdf

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

POSTED 8/4/2021 from NYAPT News & Notes:

INFORMATION ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF BEDS CODES FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION

The following information is provided by State Director Paul Overbaugh in response to a question from the NYAPT Summer Conference.

LINK TO LOOK UP A BEDS CODE FOR A SCHOOL: https://portal.nysed.gov/pls/sedrefpublic/SED.sed_inst_qry_vw$.startup

Question: Is it required for a non-public school to have a BEDS code to receive transportation?

Answer: Yes. When nonpublic schools (located in NYS) have BEDS codes, their annual enrollment reporting generates State Aid, which is distributed to their school districts of residence to fund the transportation services. Therefore, SED has said that if they aren't getting the funds (which requires the nonpublic school to have a BEDS code), districts are not required to transport students to those schools.

Please note: Districts can decide to transport children to nonpublic schools without BEDS codes. However, if the district chooses to provide transportation to a nonpublic school without a BEDS code, it is with the understanding they will not receive state aid for that non-public school's annual enrollment.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________