Enacts the school bus mandate relief act authorizing school districts, in their discretion, to provide student transportation based upon patterns of actual ridership.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6821A
SPONSOR: Schimel TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to
enacting the school bus mandate relief act
PURPOSE: This bill would allow school boards to reduce the number of
seats available to pupils on school buses, if there is a consistent
three year pattern of eligible pupils not taking the school bus to
school provided by the school district.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 - Creates the title of the bill,
"The School Bus Mandate Relief Act."
Section 2 - Adds Subdivision 8 to g 3535 of the Education, to allow the
option to the board of education of a school district to reduce the
number of seats available on school transportation provided by the
district based on patterns of actual ridership. The ridership shall be
based upon the history and experience that yields a consistent pattern
of eligible pupils not using the district transportation; or modeling of
future ridership or other criteria determined by the school district
that ensures that all students in need of transportation receive it.
Additionally school districts opting to offer transportation based on
the pattern of actual ridership must place such plans on the school
district's website before August 15th of each school year.
Section 3 - Sets is the enacting date.
JUSTIFICATION: Many school districts have complained that they are
required to provide under existing law many more seats on bus transpor-
tation that are actually needed as evidenced by student ridership.
Schools are experiencing budget cuts.and more Pressure than ever to save
money and seek efficiencies. This bill provides mandate relief in an
area that is of high cost to school districts, namely transportation.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to the state.
EFFECTIVE BATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
