BILL NUMBER: S9667
SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to delaying the zero-em-
ission school bus mandate
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To extend the statutory deadlines for school districts to transition to
zero-emission school buses by five years.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 3638 of the
education law to extend the deadline by which school districts must
purchase or lease only zero-emission school buses from July 1, 2027 to
July 1, 2032 and extend the deadline by which all school districts must
fully operate zero-emission school buses from July 1, 2035 to July 1,
2040.
Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York State has committed to an ambitious transition to zero-emission
school buses in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air
quality, and protect public health. However, since the enactment of the
original timelines, school districts have raised significant concerns
regarding the feasibility of meeting the current deadlines. These
concerns include supply chain and distance limitations, high upfront
costs, insufficient charging infrastructure, and workforce readiness
challenges. The current waiver system for school districts to opt-out of
the mandate is insufficient and places more administrative burdens on
our already strained schools.
This legislation provides school districts with additional time to plan,
budget, and implement this transition in a fiscally responsible and
operationally feasible manner, while preserving the State's commitment
to full electrification of school bus fleets.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.