BILL NUMBER: S10354
SPONSOR: SUTTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to school bus transporta-
tion
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to provide families with greater flexibility
in accessing school transportation under certain circumstances.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends subdivision 2 of section 3635 of the
education law by requiring school districts to provide transportation in
certain additional situations, including when a family moves within the
district during the school year, a school changes locations, or a child
is enrolled in a public or nonpublic school after April 1. This section
also adds a new subdivision that defines a "reasonable explanation"
related to late requests for transportation.
Section two sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Transportation is an essential part of New York's education system, and
the law governing school bus registration deadlines should reflect the
realities faced by today's families and school districts. This bill
balances the necessity of a school district's financial and logistical
planning with sudden or unexpected changes to a family's dynamic. Fami-
lies should not be denied access to school transportation when events
outside of their control occur after the April 1st deadline. Addi-
tionally, recognizing that school districts cannot adequately plan for
transportation and logistical costs with a total erosion of the current
April 1 deadline, this bill provides defined flexibility for families
while maintaining a hard deadline of June 1 in a defined set of circum-
stances.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S10354: 3635 education law, 3635(2) education law