BILL NUMBER: S1309

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
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 poten-
tially 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:

2017-18: S.6173 Passed Senate

 
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 neces-
sary to timely implement the provisions of this act on its effective
date.