Three new bills proposed by New York school bus association Three new bills proposed by local association

SOLVAY, N.Y. (NCC News)

Three new bills have been proposed by a state school bus association with help from state senators regarding school bus safety.

The bill, known as the “School Bus Camera Safety Act,” proposes putting cameras on the stop arms of school buses. It also would impose fines of $250 and not dock points off a driver’s license or give jail time for convictions.

“The younger generation of drivers don’t know what to do when they encounter a school bus on the road,” said Bree Allen, president of the New York School Bus Contractors Association.

Allen said drivers are passing stopped school buses at an alarming rate, about 50,000 times a day statewide.

Senator Catherine Young and co-sponsor assemblyman William Magnarelli proposed pieces of legislation to start making this issue more prominent.

Young said it is “crucial that we make this technology available to school districts to help curb this problem and safeguard our children.”

The bus contractors association wants to educate drivers in response to the previous legislation. The additions include increased fines ranging from $400 to as much as $1500 and suspensions to a person’s drivers license for up to 60 days in the new bills.

Solvay Schools Transportation Supervisor Bobbie Jo Eastman has concerns about  school bus safety.

Eastman is glad with the new bills because she feels drivers have not been properly educated on the rules of the road.

“I’m excited about it,” Eastman said. “I’m hoping that there’s funding available with that legislation.”