TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022
1:00 p.m. ET

Hosted by the Alliance for Electric School Buses and the Electric School Bus Initiative.

This April, the U.S. EPA is expected to officially launch its new Clean School Bus Program, which will provide billions of dollars to help school districts invest in electric school buses over the next five years. Join us to learn more about this unprecedented funding opportunity and how you can leverage it for your school district and community. Drawing on years of federal and local experience, panelists will offer unique and helpful insights into applying for, receiving and deploying clean school bus funding.

From our meetings with stakeholders, it's our understanding that contractors will be able to apply for the funding directly. Join the webinar to learn more. There is a section to share your questions in advance for the panelists when you register.

Click Here to Register

It is with deepest sorrow to inform you that Ellis Marksohn, 31, beloved son of Bart and Jan Marksohn passed away on March 15 after a sudden illness. Memorial services will be private and the family asks for time to grieve their loss privately. The best way we can support the Marksohn family is to keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Those who wish to express their condolences are asked to consider a donation to the GoFundMe page in memory of Ellis Marksohn.

Ellis’ brother Jesse and his fiancé Heather established the fund to honor Ellis’ life by supporting charities and organizations that were dear to him. Even a small donation could help Heather Clifford reach their fundraising goal to honor Ellis Marksohn. And if you can't make a donation, it would be great if you could share the fundraiser link to help spread the word.

GoFundMe Link: https://gofund.me/9ce904c9

Bart and Jan Marksohn are longtime members and supporters of NYSBCA. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, Jesse, Heather, and their family during this difficult time.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) waived until March 1, 2022, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided they had proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) issued for a period of 90 days or longer and expired on or after September 1st, 2021. Drivers whose medical examiners certificate (MEC) expired on or after September 1st, 2021 had until February 28, 2022 to submit an updated medical certificate to the DMV. Please note, effective March 1, 2022, drivers in this category who do not have an MEC on file were placed in a “Not Certified” status and will be notified by mail that their license will be downgraded to a non-CDL class in 55 days.

Commercial drivers that receive a downgrade letter and have an updated, valid medical certificate must submit their certificate to the Medical Certification Unit by fax: (518) 486-4421 or (518) 486-3260 or by Email: dmv.sm.cdlmedcertunit@dmv.ny.gov as soon as possible to avoid having their CDL license downgraded. Once a CDL has been downgraded, drivers must visit their local DMV office to upgrade their license and pay the appropriate amendment fees. Drivers should also monitor their license status using MyDMV to ensure that their submitted medical certificate has been received and added to their driving record.

Click Here for the FMCSA waiver.

CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION LINK.

The Leonard Family annual scholarship is open to the children of employees of New York School Bus Contractors Association member companies.

A one-time $2,500 scholarship will be paid directly to the educational institution for the 2022/2023 school year.

Please be sure to share this application throughout your company. The scholarship winner will be announced prior to the end of the current school year.

All applications must be received at the address stated on the application no later than 4/1/22.

An independent committee has been formed to accept and review applications and will be solely responsible for the selection of the scholarship awardee. Please do not submit applications to NYSBCA or to Leonard Bus Sales.

DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2022

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO:

Community Foundation for South Central New York
520 Columbia Drive, Suite 100,
Johnson City, NY 13790
Att.: Leonard Family Scholarship Fund Advisory Committee

The Leonard Family Scholarship was created in 2015 in commemoration of the company’s 50th year as a family-owned business and to promote student success after high school. Preference is given to students with financial need. In addition $10 from every new bus purchased from Leonard Bus Sales is put toward this scholarship fund.

CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION LINK.

Click here to view the letter from Assemblyman Michael Benedetto to Governor Hochul regarding unreimbursed quarantine pay.

The Chair of the Committee on Education for the NYS Assembly, Michael Benedetto, is sending a letter to Governor Hochul tomorrow regarding the excessive financial burden faced by our industry due to unreimbursed quarantine pay. Assemblyman Benedetto’s letter to the Governor requests that the state reimburse school districts for this crisis payment. The dollars went 100% into employees’ wages, not for service, but for the health and safety of the children. The state should support these expenses as New York State provides no reimbursement or subsidy to employers for the paid sick leave benefits required under the law.

We ask you (NYSBCA Member) to call and email your local senator/assembly member to explain the hardship quarantine sick leave pay has had on your business. Ask your local elected official to send a similar letter to the Governor’s office/Leadership to help advocate for quarantine reimbursement.

NYSBCA continues to monitor and pursue a vast array of policy initiatives to strengthen our industry.

Give National Recognition to a Special Driver or Employee.

Submit a story and share photos about a driver or employee in school transportation who deserves recognition for their efforts in supporting student safety. 

Go to: lovethebus.org to share your stories and for downloadable resources to highlight the important role of the yellow school bus.

We are excited to inform our members that Nick Vallone, NYSBCA President will testify tomorrow, Wednesday, January 26, at the Elementary & Secondary Education Joint Budget Hearing.

The hearing starts at 9:30 a.m. Please note NYSBCA President Nick Vallone will be testifying later in the afternoon (PANEL H).

The hearings will be available for viewing on the Senate and Assembly websites. The Legislative Channel (on cable systems throughout the state) also will carry the proceedings.

The respective state agency or department heads will begin testimony each day, followed by witnesses who have requested and been selected to testify on that area of the budget.

• Click here for NYSBCA's written testimony submitted to the committee on higher education.
  
  
• Click here for the list of the selected witnesses for the education hearing. It's a huge accomplishment for our industry that NYSBCA was chosen to testify.
  
  
• Click here for the Joint Legislative Hearing Schedule on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Executive Budget Proposal.

Governor Hochul Announces Plan to Address Truck and Bus Driver Shortage

• Proposal Will Enable Third Parties to Conduct Commercial Driver License Road Tests
  
  
• Public Hearing on January 26 to Allow Public Input on the Proposal
  
  
• Builds on State's Efforts to Eliminate Barriers and Create Pathways for New CDL Holders

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a plan to help address a critical shortage of truck and bus drivers by significantly expanding the availability of road tests for Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants. The initiative would allow qualified third parties to offer the road tests, which would create more testing locations statewide and expand capacity at the existing state-run sites, reducing the time it takes to get qualified CDL drivers on the road.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 26, to hear and review comments on the plan. The hearing will take place virtually via WebEx (click here for event information) from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will be open for public comments following a brief introduction by DMV representatives. Written comments may be submitted to CDLThirdPartyTesting@dmv.ny.gov from January 18 to February 4.

"As we continue to fight this pandemic, we remain committed to expanding opportunities for New Yorkers, supporting our schools, and doing all we can to address the supply-chain issues that have affected many businesses throughout our state and country," Governor Hochul said. "By enabling third parties to give the road test for truck and bus drivers, we will create new avenues for New Yorkers to begin exciting careers, for our children to get to school, and to ensure that vital goods get where they need to be."

During the public hearing, the DMV will provide an overview of the proposal that calls for a phased roll out of this initiative that would initially allow other state agencies and authorities that have large fleets of commercial vehicles to begin conducting CDL road tests. The second phase would include qualified private entities. The DMV will establish a rigorous monitoring system to ensure that qualified CDL trainers safely administer the road tests in compliance with state and federal regulations. The DMV will use the feedback gathered during the public hearing to evaluate and develop an implementation plan.

DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "We at DMV know how important it is to have qualified truck and bus drivers on the road, and we are committed to doing what we can to address the need. We look forward to gathering public input at this hearing and then acting to enable qualified third parties to offer CDL road tests to give New Yorkers greater opportunity to take the test and to get good jobs driving these essential vehicles."

This new proposal is part of a series of actions taken by the State under Governor Kathy Hochul's leadership to remove barriers and recruit more drivers. In September, Governor Hochul introduced a variety of measures by multiple state agencies to address a shortage of school-bus drivers.

As part of that effort, the DMV expedited the process for obtaining a CDL by removing the 14-day waiting period between the permit test and the road tests. The state also increased capacity to administer road tests and, through cooperation with county-operated DMV offices, to increase testing capacity for written exams.

In addition, New York opened new CDL Driver Testing sites by partnering with SUNY, the Thruway Authority, New York Racing Association, and the Office of General Services to use large lots on their various sites for the road test. For school staff who held an existing CDL, the State set up expedited testing to obtain a permit that allows them to drive vans and buses temporarily.

Written comments may be submitted to CDLThirdPartyTesting@dmv.ny.gov from January 18 to February 4.

Click here for the link to the press release online.

WASHINGTON – To help states and municipalities that are experiencing a shortage of school bus drivers recruit new hires, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in coordination with the Department of Education, today announced it would give states the option of waiving the portion of the commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills test that requires school bus driver applicants to identify the “under the hood” engine components. All other components of the written and road test must be met.

“This federal waiver will help communities that are short on school bus drivers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “By allowing states to focus on the testing requirements that are critical to safety, we will get additional, qualified drivers behind the wheel to get kids to school safely.”

“This Administration is listening to the needs of school communities and remains committed to making sure schools are open safely for in-person learning full time,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “We’ve heard from educators and parents that labor shortages, particularly of bus drivers, are a roadblock to keeping kids in schools. Today’s announcement will give states the flexibility they need to help increase the pool of drivers, who are a key part of the school community, and get kids to school safely each day where students learn best. And American Rescue Plan funds can be used to hire these critical staff, including offering increased compensation or other incentives to recruit and retain staff.”

“Our nation depends on having enough qualified school bus drivers to support our children’s education. Temporarily giving states the option to modify the school bus test, widens the pool of possible drivers to fill this critical role without compromising our vital safety standards,” said FMCSA Deputy Administrator Meera Joshi.

School transportation associations, states and elected officials have pointed to the need to identify “under the hood” components as an unnecessary hurdle for those interested in becoming a school bus driver.

Under the waiver announced today, states may, but are not required to, waive the requirement that school bus driver candidates identify the “under the hood” engine components. All other CDL skills testing requirements remain in place.

Drivers receiving a CDL under this temporary waiver are permitted to operate intrastate school buses only; they are not authorized to operate trucks, motorcoaches, or any other type of commercial motor vehicle requiring a CDL.

The FMCSA waiver, which became effective January 3, 2022, expires March 31, 2022. CLICK HERE to review the waiver.

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Guidance for return-to-work during isolation:

You may allow a person to return to work after day 5 of their isolation period (where day zero is defined as either date of symptom onset if symptomatic or date of collection of the first positive test if asymptomatic) if they meet all the following criteria:

Click Here for the DOH December 24, 2021 notice | Advisory on Shortening Isolation Period for Certain Fully Vaccinated Healthcare Workers