Bill > A3565

Introduced Session

This bill permits the holder of a valid non-commercial basic driver's license who has completed certain training to operate a Type S school bus to transport students to and from school without needing to obtain a commercial driver license, passenger endorsement, or school bus endorsement. Such drivers are subject to certain provisions of law applicable to school bus drivers as enumerated in the bill. If a board of education or contractor providing pupil transportation services on behalf of the board of education employs a driver of a Type S school bus who does not have a school bus endorsement, the board of education or contractor is required to provide certain training to the driver before the driver operates a Type S school bus. Under the bill, a person who knowingly operates a Type S school bus while transporting one or more students when the person's driving privileges are revoked or suspended is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. A person who does so and is involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury to another person is guilty of a crime of the third degree. A person is to be permanently barred from driving a Type S school bus if the person is convicted of either of these crimes. The bill also provides that a person who is found to have left a pupil on a Type S school bus at the end of the route is to be prohibited from driving a school bus and Type S school bus for six months for a first offense and permanently barred from driving a school bus and Type S school bus for a second offense. A person is to be permanently barred from driving a school bus and Type S school bus if a pupil who was left on the Type S school bus at the end of the route was harmed as a result of foreseeable danger and the driver acted with gross negligence. A school bus driver who is found to have left a pupil on a school bus at the end of the route is prohibited from driving a Type S school bus for six months for a first offense and permanently barred from driving a Type S school bus for a second offense. A school bus driver is to be permanently barred from driving a Type S school bus if a school bus driver left a pupil on a school bus at the end of the route, the pupil was harmed as a result of foreseeable danger, and the school bus driver acted with gross negligence. A school bus driver who is found to have left a pupil on a Type S school bus at the end of the route is to have the driver's school bus endorsement suspended for six months for a first offense and permanently revoked for a second offense. The bill prohibits a person from driving a Type S school bus for 90 days if the driver is convicted of three or more motor vehicle moving violations in a three-year period or accumulates six or more motor vehicle penalty points while operating a commercial motor vehicle or non-commercial motor vehicle. Under the bill, the chief administrator is required to notify the Commissioner of Education of the suspension of the driver's authorization to drive a Type S school bus and the Commissioner of Education is to notify the driver's employer that the driver's authorization to drive a Type S school bus has been suspended. The employer is then required to provide a statement to the Department of Education that the driver no longer operates a Type S school bus. A driver of a Type S school bus is required to complete a defensive driving course before the driver may resume operating a Type S school bus. A "Type S school bus" is defined to mean a motor vehicle that: (1) is operated by, or under contract with, a public or governmental agency, religious organization, or other charitable organization or corporation for the transportation of students to and from school for secular or religious education; and (2) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 3,000 pounds or more, which vehicle was originally designed by the manufacturer with a maximum seating capacity of nine passengers or less, excluding the driver.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sean Kean (R)*,  Edward Thomson (R)*,  John Catalano (R),  Pam Lampitt (D),  Greg McGuckin (R), 

Received in the Senate without Reference, 2nd Reading (on 06/20/2022)

Official Document