BILL NUMBER: S7813
SPONSOR: CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to improving the trans-
portation of children with special needs
 
PURPOSE:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to improving the trans-
portation of children with special needs
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the education law to provide that children with
special needs shall be provided free transportation between home and
school. Further provides that each school district with a child with
special needs shall have a liaison to work with each child and family
and ensure that transportation shall not exceed 1.5 hours, or reimburse-
ment for transportation expenses if such timely transportation cannot be
provided, and for cameras and bus tracking systems to be included on
buses for such children so the families of children with special needs
can know when the bus will be arriving home.
Section 2: Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Bussing time for children with special needs should not exceed 1.5 hours
from entering the bus to drop off. Many of these children cannot commu-
nicate their need to go to bathroom, so longer trips could be detri-
mental to their well-being. Cameras and bus tracking would be partic-
ularly beneficial to parents of children with special needs as extra
care and coordination may be necessary to meet their child's needs.
Furthermore, wait times at homes should be flexible as some special
needs children need more time to get on and off the bus. This legis-
lation would require these accommodations for children with special
needs and their families and would further require schools to have a
liaison to work with children and families to ensure these requirements
are being met.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
upon which it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S7813: 3635 education law