Senate Bill S2711

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S2711

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act relating to school bus travel on the Palisades parkway; and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof


 PURPOSE :
To permit any private or public elementary or secondary school bus or
camp bus to use the Palisades Parkway whether the bus is being used to
transport students/campers or is not being used to transport
students/campers.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the
commissioner of the Palisades park commission shall promulgate rules
and regulations necessary to permit any school bus operated on behalf
of a private or public elementary school or secondary school or camp
in this state to use the Palisades parkway whether such school bus is
being used to transport pupils/campers or is not being used to
transport pupils/campers when on such parkway.  For the purposes of
this section; "school bus" shall mean any vehicle properly equipped
and lawfully designated for the purposes of transporting
pupils/campers.

 JUSTIFICATION :
              

Currently, school buses are allowed on the Palisades Parkway when they
are carrying students/campers, but not allowed on the same roadway
when the bus is empty. This creates the strange situation where the
same bus that uses the Interstate for a quick route to a destination
while carrying students/campers is banned from that same efficient
route back after dropping off the students/campers. This is even more
problematic especially since today's buses, which are equipped with
high bus seats for safety, make it virtually impossible to tell
whether the bus is carrying students/campers or not. This bill would
save school systems important monies at this time of high fuel and gas
prices.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2008   S.5699  Passed Senate
2007   S.5699  Referred to Education - Similar to S.6779A of 2006 -
Passed Senate

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law and shall expire 2 years after such effective
date; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition,
amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and
directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.