BILL NUMBER: S3328
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing school
districts to opt-out of zero-emission school bus requirements
 
PURPOSE:
Authorizes school districts to submit an opt-out waiver to the commis-
sioner of education authorizing such districts to opt-out of certain
zero-emission school bus requirements.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 Amends section 3638 of the Education Law to allow school
districts to submit an opt-out waiver to exempt them from the require-
ments of the zero-emission school bus mandate.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Many school districts have shared concerns and challenges they are
facing regarding their ability to comply with the zero-emission school
bus mandate. Some of the challenges that stakeholders have identified
include utility providers being unable to provide adequate power to
districts; fiscal challenges related to school bus and charging infras-
tructure acquisition; and zero-emission school buses not being conducive
to long bus routes or cold weather, among others. This bill would allow
schools to submit an opt-out waiver that would permanently exempt them
from the provisions required by the zero-emission school bus mandate.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024 - S.8524- Education Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.