BILL NUMBER: S5408
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to administration of
certain funds for zero-emission school buses and supporting infrastruc-
ture
 
PURPOSE:
Provides for administration of certain funds for zero-emission school
buses and supporting infrastructure.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the education law to establish definitions and to
authorize NYSERDA, in consultation with the Office of General Services
and the Department of Education to develop and administer an incentive
program for the distribution of the five hundred million dollars allo-
cated for the costs associated with the purchase or conversion to zero-
emission school buses and supporting infrastructure. Additionally,
guidelines for the program are established.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2022, New Yorkers overwhelmingly voted to enact the Clean Water,
Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which created a $500
million investment in zero-emission school buses to support the health
and safety of students across our state. This act has also given New
York the opportunity to promote responsible EV manufacturing practices
and to bring about benefits for those who manufacture EV school buses.
This legislation will authorize NYSERDA to create a voucher program that
utilizes a scoring system based on the type and number of jobs created,
environmental impacts, and more to determine what vendors qualify as
eligible vendors. This creates a powerful incentive for EV school bus
manufacturers to implement environmentally and socially sustainable
business practices and encourages transparency and accountability in the
EV school bus manufacturing sector.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S7087 - Died in Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.