South Queens, New York- Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) today proposed bill A.9648 in the NYS Assembly. This legislation, which was drafted in conjunction with Agudath Israel of America, clarifies the state law which mandates that school districts must provide transportation for students with disabilities who attend a non-public school and who have been recognized by the local Committee on Special Education (CSE) with the need to attend that school. Currently, the law’s language gives room for local districts to deny transportation to students if the program he or she attends is not “similar” to the special education services recommended by the CSE.

“Parents of children with special needs have enough on their plates. They should not have to prove that the services or programs their children attend are similar to the ones recommended by the CSE in order to receive transportation,” said Pheffer Amato. “I am thrilled to be working with Agudath Israel on this important piece of legislation to help the many families who have had to deal with this hardship until now. The law should be clear and school districts should not be able to hide behind a loophole in order to deny transportation.”

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all children who have been identified as having a handicapping condition receive transportation to and from school, and have the opportunity to learn in a way that would be the most beneficial to them.

David Zwiebel, Esq., Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel of America, said, “Eliminating the daily pressure of transporting a child with special needs to a school in which the student will actually be able to learn will make an incredible difference in the daily lives of the child as well as his family. Congratulations, Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato, for stepping up to the plate for these long suffering children and parents,”

Leah Steinberg, Director, Project LEARN, Special Education Affairs, Agudath Israel of America, said, “We are grateful to Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato for recognizing that parents of children with special needs have to-do lists that are long enough as it is. Busing them to school should not be on that list. Thank you Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato!”

According to Agudath Israel, often the reason parents want to send their children to a school other than that recommended by the CSE is that the school, services, or programs suggested do not sufficiently address the child’s needs.

As of 01/30/2018 the bill has been referred to the Education Committee.