BILL NUMBER: S9000

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend chapter 670 of the laws of 2007 amending the education
law relating to directing the commissioner of education to promulgate
regulations limiting the engines of school vehicles to remain idling
while parked or standing on school grounds, in relation to the effec-
tiveness thereof

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill extends chapter 670 of the laws of 2007 to provide continued
authorization for SED's regulations prohibiting school vehicles from
idling while parked or standing on school grounds.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 2 of chapter 670 of the laws of 2007 amending
the education law relating to directing the commissioner of education to
promulgate regulations limiting the engines of school vehicles to remain
              

idling while parked or standing on school grounds, as amended by chapter
49 of the laws of 2019 by changing the repeal date to June thirtieth,
2029.

Section 2 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2007, the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force
released a study about the growing rate of pediatric asthma in communi-
ties all over the State and its disproportionate impact on Latino and
black children in urban settings. A number of recommendations from the
report including chapter 670 of the laws of 2007 - were subsequently
signed into law. This bill extends that chapter till 2029.

To continue to protect the 2.7 million school age children, teachers,
and school staff from the toxic and asthma causing by product of diesel
fuel combustion, this bill extends the 2007 law into 2029. Prior to
2007, there was an appalling neglect by policymakers and school offi-
cials of the growing evidence of the dangers of motor vehicle exhaust to
the lungs of children. Groups ranging from the American Medical Associ-
ation to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had called for action
to protect children from harmful idling emissions during the school day.

From Buffalo to Long Island, this is a real problem with harmful conse-
quences for our children. Each school day, almost 2 million children
board over 55,000 diesel-powered school buses and are exposed to lung-
irritating chemicals. For many children this exposure triggers asthma
attacks or other respiratory problems. The 2007 law championed and
mentioned above by the NYS Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force was
a simple, pragmatic and no-cost approach to dealing with idling vehicles
outside school and childcare grounds. It stopped the wasteful and
dangerous idling of thousands of school buses in areas congested with
young children. School officials are required to take the issue of motor
vehicle pollution and growing asthma rates seriously by following SED
no-idling policies.

The continued growing number of asthmatic children and bad-air quality
surrounding our schools requires that we act diligently to address these
problems. This legislation achieves that goal in one of the many arenas
where children are exposed to toxins that cause health problems.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.