The New York State Education Department posted the updated Consumer Price Index (CPI) for May 2024 is 3.9% to be used for contract extensions/multi-year term cost adjustments.

More detailed information can be found on the Pupil Transportation CPI Webpage.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials announced that yellow school buses with Department of Education contracts would be exempt from congestion pricing. This is good news for the school bus industry.

Senate One-House Budget Bills Released on 03/11/24

Summary of provisions of interest to NYSBCA

Aid to Localities (S.8303-B)

• The Senate modifies the Executive recommendation of $44.9 billion, and adds $1.2 billion, for a total $46.1 billion, as follows:
  
  
• Rejects: - All Executive changes to Foundation Aid, including the elimination of "hold harmless" and redefining inflation. Redirects: - $100 million in unallocated funds to the school-aid run.
  
  
• Adds: $5 million for transportation after 4pm.
  
  

Article VII Proposals (S.8306-B)

The Senate modifies the Executive proposal related to school aid to:

• Expand the proposal that excludes Environmental Bond Act funds for the transition to zero emission buses from being considered revenue, by also excluding federal funds for the conversion.
  
  
• Establish a zero-emission bus agency leadership level-working group to spearhead the implementation of the transition to zero-emission school buses.
  
  
• Extend reimbursement, currently available to small city, central, common, and union free school districts, for the transportation of students below the current 1.5-mile limit when the State Education Department deems there is a safety issue to the Big 5 school districts.
  
  
• Increase funding for school transportation after 4pm in New York City.
  
  
• NEW PART YY -- The Senate advances language directing the Department of Financial Services to create a captive insurance program for commuter vans, black cars, ambulettes, paratransits, and small school buses, which works based off of S.8432.
  
  
• PART K -- The Senate modifies the Executive's proposal to create a Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Act by advancing the Senate's Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Package which includes required safety equipment and features, mileage or age based phase outs for limousines, pre-trip safety briefings, an update to the limo safety website, increased fines for operating a limo with an out of service defect, and the extension of the Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety task force (S.1443-A, S.1442, S.1367, S.1368, S.1370-A, S.1371, S.8376).
  
  
• The Senate additionally supports extending the school bus camera enforcement program authorization, which helps keep our children safe from the dangers of vehicles illegally over-passing stopped school buses.
  
  
• PART I -- The Senate modifies the Executive's proposal to authorize the City of New York to lower citywide speed limits from its current authorization of 25 miles per hour down to 20 miles per hour, and to lower school zone speed limits and traffic calming "slow zones" from 15 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour, to replace it with Sammy's Law (S.2422-B).
  
  
• NEW PART WW -- The Senate advances language to require all public transit operators that receive State assistance to purchase only zero-emissions buses and related equipment beginning January 1, 2029. This legislation also requires a best-value contracting framework to evaluate bids to promote higher wages and benefits and requires the development of a plan to train or retrain impacted auto workers (S.6089).
  
  
• NEW PART EEE -- The Senate advances language to require New York City to establish scramble crosswalks between the hours of 8AM and 4PM near school zones on weekdays (S.2515-C).
  
  
• PART M -- The Senate modifies the Executive proposal to sunset the State's COVID-19 Sick Leave Law on July 31, 2024, by continuing such benefits for employees that work in facilities licensed under Article 28 of the Public Health Law.
  
  
• NEW PARTY -- The Senate advances language to reduce the period from which striking workers are eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits as a result of a labor dispute from two weeks to one week (S.4402).
  
  
• Article VII Proposals (S.8305-B) * PART N (WORKERS COMP)
  
  
• • The Senate modifies the Executive proposal to increase short-term disability leave benefits by implementing a progressive benefit structure over a three-year period and amends employee contributions provided that in no case shall employee contributions exceed $2.20 per week. The Senate also temporarily exempts workers and employers covered by a current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) until the expiration of such agreement (amended version of S.2821-B).
    
    
  • NEW PART III -- The Senate advances language to expand workers' compensation coverage for work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (S.6635).
    
    
  • NEW PART Z -- The Senate advances language to allow either party to a Workers' Compensation claim to request a hearing and to require a record of all hearings held (S.8445-A).

NYSBCA’s government relations team is still reviewing the NYS Assembly one-house budget provisions and will release a separate summary shortly. If you have any questions in relation to any of the provisions above please reach out to Brad Gerstman at Brad@gerstmangr.com for more information.

• Wednesday, September 20th at 9:00 am at the NYSDOT Office (Hunters Point Plaza), 47-40 21st Street, Room 834 A/B, Long Island City NY 11101
  
  
• Thursday, September 21st at 9:00 am at the NYSDOT Office, 50 Wolf Road, Conference Room A/B (1st Floor), Colonie, NY 12205
  
  
• Monday, September 25th at 9:00 am at the NY State Office Building, 250 Veterans' Memorial Highway (SR 347/454), Basement Classroom (2/3), Hauppauge NY 11788

These seminars are free of charge and open to all persons involved in the operation of passenger carrying commercial motor vehicles (buses, vans, limousines) including drivers, managers, mechanics, and office support personnel.

Topics to include:

• Strategies to deter high risk unsafe driving behaviors
• Driver safety fitness
• Drug/Alcohol Clearinghouse requirements
• Federal/State regulation driver focused discussion
• NYSDOT/FMCSA operating authority requirements
• NYSDOT semi-annual inspection requirements
• NYSDMV 19A bus driver requirements

Please indicate which seminar date/ location/ # of persons to attend by sending an email to jean-paul.paraskevas@dot.ny.gov.

NYSBCA congratulates Nick and Kayla Vallone on the arrival of their second child, Isabel Quinn, born on August 22, 2023.

Welcome Isabel Quinn to the school bus family.

2023 Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity | Information Session #2

*NOTE* this webinar will be the same as the 5/10/23 webinar.

Click Here to Register

Attend this webinar to learn more about the Clean School Bus grant opportunity and share your feedback. Applications to this funding opportunity are due Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

For more information, please visit our website: epa.gov/cleanschoolbus

If you have any feedback, please email: cleanschoolbus@epa.gov

$400 million in Clean School Bus grants are now available! Applications are open until August 22, 2023.

Click Here for the Press Release

Key Messages and Background Information

• The $400 million grant opportunity through EPA’s Clean School Bus Program will fund electric, propane, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses that will produce either zero or low tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors.
  
  
• This is the first round of funding available as grants and follows the nearly $1 billion the Biden-Harris Administration awarded through the rebate competition last year to fund electric and low-emission school buses across school districts.
  
  
• This 2023 Grant Program is separate from the earlier 2022 Rebate Program, and interested applicants must apply to the Grant Program if interested in this funding opportunity.
  
  
• Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity are (1) state and local governmental entities that provide bus service; (2) public charter school districts, (3) Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, or Tribally-controlled Schools, (4) Nonprofit School Transportation Associations, and (5) Eligible Contractors (including OEMs, Dealers, School Bus Service Providers, and Private Bus Fleets).
  
  
• EPA will provide a combined funding amount to cover both bus and infrastructure costs for all awardees requesting electric school buses.
  
  
• EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs or those receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land, and rural areas.

To learn more about the clean school bus grant program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates, visit www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.

Carrier liaisons need to recertify their users once a year. User passwords expire after 90 days.

This message was sent to carriers through the 19-A system.

In preparation for the Affidavit of Compliance to be submitted, carrier liaisons should be sure they have recertified their users to have access to the 19-A system. For Liaisons to Recertify:

Go to: https://secap.dmv.ny.gov/

• Select the Remote Administrative VPASS Environment (RAVE) application. (Under the 19A System)
• Read the NYS DMV Memorandum of Understanding-Choose 'I Agree' and submit.
• The next step in the same RAVE menu is to select Recertify all users.
• Once selected you will see S19A18295 with an L1 next to it. Check the box and continue/update until you get back to the main menu again.
• Repeat this process for each user to be recertified. Remove any user that should not be active.
• You will then need to log off and log on again to go into 19A System
• Your next recertification date will be 364 days from the current date. You will need to recertify before that date next year or your account will be locked.

Once your account is locked you must contact busdriverunit@dmv.ny.gov to have your password reset.

U.S. Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 03/14/2023 01:21 PM EDT

First round of funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program will help ensure America’s zero-emission vehicle future is accessible and equitable, no matter where you live.

Click Here to View the Press Release