BILL NUMBER:  S6173

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to prohibiting sex offenders from being bus drivers

 PURPOSE :

To prohibit sex offenders from being bus drivers.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1: Amends paragraph (a) of subdivision I of section 509-cc of
the vehicle and traffic law to permanently ban anyone who has been
convicted of any offense that requires registration as a sex offender
from being employed as a school bus driver.

Section 2: Amends subdivision 2 of section 509-cc of the vehicle and
traffic law to permanently ban anyone who has been convicted of any
offense that requires registration as a sex offender from being
employed as a school bus driver.

Section 3: Establishes the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Although many convictions which require registration as a sex offender
              

result in a permanent or temporary ban from being employed as a school
bus driver, it is unconscionable that someone convicted of any crime
serious enough to warrant registration as a sex offender could
potentially be allowed to drive our children. Crimes such as third
degree rape currently only warrant a five-year ban from being employed
as a school driver, but the risk of recidivism for these crimes is too
high to risk the safety of our children and students at any point.

Fortunately, most schools go above and beyond to ensure sex offenders
do not gain access to students by their own initiative. However,
loopholes should not exist that could allow someone who has registered
as a sex offender to become a school bus driver anywhere in the state.
This legislation serves to remove such loopholes and codify this
prohibition in state law, rather than leaving it up to individual
school districts.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become law. Effectively immediately, the commissioner of
motor vehicles may add, amend, or repeal any rule or regulation
necessary to timely implement the provisions of this act on its
effective date.