ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York State Senate passed two
bills Monday that would enhance the safety of bus passengers by preventing
registered sex offenders from becoming bus drivers and increasing penalties for
passing a stopped school bus.
Legislation (S.1519) sponsored by Senator Carl L.
Marcellino (R-Syosset) would prohibit a registered sex offender from obtaining
or renewing a commercial driver's license to operate a passenger or school bus,
providing a greater level of protection to the public from these individuals.
"Registered sex
offenders should not be operating any buses, plain and simple. Bus operators
come in contact with vulnerable individuals and to allow a registered sex
offender a greater ability to have incidents of recidivism makes no sense. This legislation remedies the problem," said
Senator Marcellino.
Another bill (S.1878), sponsored by Senator John Bonacic
(R,C,I-Mount Hope), provides for a 60-day suspension of an individual's driver's
license when the holder is convicted two or more times of passing a stopped
school bus within a period of 10 years. This legislation would make the
penalties for multiple violations of passing a stopped school bus the same as
penalties for drivers convicted of speeding in a construction zone two or more
times.
Senator Bonacic said, "From the moment our children leave
us in the morning, until the moment they arrive at home, we trust their care to
others. School bus safety is an
essential part of that trust. We need to
ensure appropriate penalties are in place whenever anyone drives dangerously
near our students."
The bills have been sent to the Assembly.
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