NY State Senate Bill 2009-S3916

Senate Bill S3916

2009-2010 Legislative Session

Requires that bus drivers be provided with regular rest periods to have the opportunity to use a restroom

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2010	referred to transportation
Apr 06, 2009	referred to transportation

co-Sponsors

2009-S3916 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5034
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Transportation Law
Laws Affected:: Add §214-a, Transp L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2011-2012: A2542
2013-2014: A3508
2015-2016: A1619
2017-2018: A2541
2019-2020: A4393
2021-2022: A1761
2023-2024: A4691

2009-S3916 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires that bus drivers be provided with regular rest periods to have the opportunity to use a restroom.

2009-S3916 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3916

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to providing bus
drivers with appropriate rest periods

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :
This bill would require transportation providers to allow bus
operators to use convenient restroom facilities along their routes
following a period of work.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :
§ 1. Short title.

§ 2. Adds a new section 214-a of the transportation law.

§ 3. Effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :
In a growing number of areas throughout our state, tight, computer
generated, bus schedules and increased traffic congestion have
virtually eliminated any extra time that transit operators formerly
had to use restroom facilities along their routes when necessary.

In order to stay on schedule, transit operators routinely delay
restroom breaks, which can lead to a series of serious health

problems. Medical studies indicate that adverse health effects that
may result from voluntary urinary retention include urinary tract
infections (UTIs), renal damage, kidney infections, kidney failure,
bladder cancer, and prostate problems. UTIs can lead to other
complications if experienced during pregnancy, including low birth
weight babies, who are at risk for additional health problems compared
to normal weight infants.

Drivers who refrain from drinking throughout the day face risk of
dehydration which can result in serious, and even potentially
life-threatening, health effects, such as changes in the body's
chemistry, kidney failure, nausea, headaches, dizziness or
light-headedness, weakness, fever, and heart palpitations.

In addition, commercial motor vehicle operators who are not able to
use the restroom, like any distressed, distracted drivers, are also a
danger to others. They may be forced to ignore speed limits or drive
recklessly, putting transit riders and all persons outside the vehicle
at risk.

This bill would simply require transit agencies to allow bus operators
to use convenient restroom facilities following a period of work. This
is a human rights issue!

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
A8225 (2007-2008).

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2009-S3916 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  3916

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              April 6, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in  relation  to  providing  bus
  drivers with appropriate rest periods

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
the "public transit safety act".
  S  2.  The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 214-a
to read as follows:
  S 214-A. APPROPRIATE REST PERIODS FOR BUS DRIVERS. 1. AS USED IN  THIS
SECTION:
  A.  "APPROPRIATE  REST PERIOD" MEANS A PERIOD OF REST OF NOT LESS THAN
TEN MINUTES FOR EVERY SEGMENT OF FOUR HOURS OR MAJOR PART THEREOF WORKED
IN ONE WORK PERIOD WITHOUT DEDUCTION FOR THE EMPLOYEE'S PAY.
  B. "BUS" MEANS EVERY MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A SEATING CAPACITY  OF  NINE
OR  MORE PASSENGERS IN ADDITION TO THE DRIVER AND USED FOR THE TRANSPOR-
TATION OF PERSONS.
  C. "BUS DRIVER" MEANS ANY  PERSON  EMPLOYED  BY  ANY  TRANSIT  AGENCY,
AUTHORITY  OR  COMPANY, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, WHOSE OPERATION IS AUTHORIZED
BY THE STATE OR ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, THAT DRIVES A BUS FOR
HIRE OR PROFIT.
  D. "TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER" MEANS ANY PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR NOT-FOR-PRO-
FIT ENTITY, INCLUDING ANY  TRANSPORTATION  AUTHORITY,  UTILIZING  PUBLIC
FUNDS  TO PROVIDE OR CONTRACT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR SPECIFIC CLIENT GROUPS.
  2. A. EVERY TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER SHALL PROVIDE EACH BUS  DRIVER  AN
APPROPRIATE REST PERIOD TO UTILIZE THE NEAREST CONVENIENT RESTROOM.
  B.  NO PROVISION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYERS
AND EMPLOYEES FROM ESTABLISHING APPROPRIATE REST  PERIODS  WHICH  DIFFER
FROM  THOSE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION PURSUANT TO A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD08255-01-9

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Senate Bill S3916

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Sponsored By

Diane J. Savino