A02011 Summary:

BILL NOA02011
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORSmullen
 
COSPNSRDeStefano, Brabenec, Manktelow, Angelino, Bendett, Hawley, Lemondes, Brown E
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd §1709, Ed L
 
Permits local boards of education to enter into contracts with a drive-sharing network of persons for reimbursement of transportation expenses for the conveyance of pupils residing in such school districts; authorizes the commissioner of education to promulgate any necessary rules and regulations; outlines certain requirements to which the local board of education shall adhere; makes related provisions.
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A02011 Actions:

BILL NOA02011
 
01/14/2025referred to education
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A02011 Committee Votes:

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A02011 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
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A02011 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A2011
 
SPONSOR: Smullen
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to permitting local boards of education to enter into contracts with a drive-sharing network of persons for reimbursement of transportation expenses   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This Act proposes to amend the New York State Education Law to allow local boards of education to expand Parent Contracts so schools can contract with an approved network of drivers, including but not limited to, parents, family members, neighbors, and teachers for the purpose of providing pupil transportation.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 provides an overview of legislative findings and intent. Section 2 amends subdivision 27 of section 1709 of the Education Law to expand parent contracts so that local boards of education can authorize a school district to enter into a contract with a network of drivers that is approved by the board for the purpose of providing an alterna- tive method of pupil transportation. Section 3 provides the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: The Fiscal Year 2022-23 Enacted Budget included a provision to mandate that by 2027, all new school bus purchases or leases must be zero-emis- sion, and by 2035 all school bus fleets in operation for pupil transpor- tation must be zero-emission. The cost of purchasing and maintaining a zero-emission bus is currently significantly higher than the cost of purchasing and maintaining a traditional combustion engine school bus. These costs, in addition to the aggressive timeline prescribed by the mandate, present a significant financial challenge for school districts, especially those in rural areas of the state. Therefore, creative solutions are required to help school districts comply with the mandate while still maintaining fiscal responsibility. One such solution is to expand Parent Contracts, which currently allow boards of education to contract with parents to transport their students at public cost, so that an expanded pool of eligible drivers, including family members, teachers, or neighbors, could provide such transporta- tion at public cost. This innovative solution could provide a unique cost control method for districts that would potentially reduce the number of zero-emission buses that school districts must operate and maintain and their associated charging infrastructure.
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A02011 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          2011
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    January 14, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by M. of A. SMULLEN, DeSTEFANO, BRABENEC, MANKTELOW, ANGELI-
          NO, BENDETT, HAWLEY, LEMONDES, E. BROWN -- read once and  referred  to
          the Committee on Education
 
        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  education  law, in relation to permitting local
          boards of education to  enter  into  contracts  with  a  drive-sharing
          network of persons for reimbursement of transportation expenses
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature recognizes
     2  that the high costs  associated  with  purchasing  zero-emission  school
     3  buses and providing pupil transportation services are a concern for many
     4  school  districts  and  parents.  In  New  York  state,  parents, family
     5  members, teachers and neighbors of students have expressed  interest  in
     6  helping  to  transport  students  to  and from school to help reduce the
     7  costs of pupil transportation services. However,  currently  only  legal
     8  parents  or guardians are permitted to transport children under a parent
     9  contract, which allows a school district to compensate the legal  parent
    10  or guardian for transporting their own children.
    11    This  act proposes to amend the education law to allow local boards of
    12  education to expand parent contracts so schools  can  contract  with  an
    13  approved network of parents, family members, neighbors, and teachers for
    14  the  purpose  of providing pupil transportation. These individuals would
    15  be reimbursed based on either the approved mileage rate for staff or the
    16  IRS mileage rate, plus tolls, whichever is greater.
    17    § 2. Subdivision 27 of section 1709 of the education law,  as  amended
    18  by chapter 737 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
    19    27.  a.  To  contract  with  any  person,  corporation or other school
    20  district for the conveyance of pupils residing within the district, when
    21  authorized to do so under subdivision nineteen of section  two  thousand
    22  twenty-one  of  this chapter, by vote of the inhabitants of the district
    23  entitled to vote, or to contract  for  the  operation,  maintenance  and
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD04559-01-5

        A. 2011                             2
 
     1  garaging  of  motor  vehicles  owned by the district, in accordance with
     2  such rules and regulations as such board  of  education  may  establish,
     3  consistent  with the regulations of the commissioner. Upon authorization
     4  by  a school district meeting, every such contract of transportation may
     5  be made for a period  not  exceeding  five  years,  notwithstanding  any
     6  provision of any other law inconsistent herewith.
     7    b.  To  contract with an approved drive-sharing network of persons for
     8  the conveyance of pupils residing within the  district,  in  which  such
     9  persons are compensated based upon the approved milage rate for staff or
    10  the  IRS mileage rate, plus tolls, whichever is greater, when authorized
    11  to do so under subdivision nineteen of section two  thousand  twenty-one
    12  of  this  chapter. The commissioner shall promulgate any rules and regu-
    13  lations necessary to implement the provisions of this paragraph, includ-
    14  ing requiring all such persons to meet or exceed the safety  regulations
    15  set  forth  in  8  NYCRR  156.3. Upon authorization by a school district
    16  meeting, every such contract of transportation may be made for a  period
    17  not  exceeding  one year, notwithstanding any provision of any other law
    18  inconsistent herewith. Reimbursement provided for under  this  paragraph
    19  shall be subject to the following conditions:
    20    (i)  The local board of education shall require proof of the transpor-
    21  tation expenses, such as receipts, mileage logs or  any  other  document
    22  deemed acceptable by the board;
    23    (ii)  The local board of education shall establish policies and proce-
    24  dures to ensure the safety and security of  the  students  being  trans-
    25  ported; and
    26    (iii) The local board of education shall establish policies and proce-
    27  dures to prevent conflicts of interest or the appearance of impropriety.
    28    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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A02011 LFIN:

 NO LFIN
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A02011 Chamber Video/Transcript:

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