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Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1352A

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to signs on school buses

PURPOSE: To allow school bus signs, that are currently required to be illuminated, to be constructed with reflectorized TYPE III material.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 allows the required two "SCHOOL BUS" signs displayed on school buses to be constructed with the reflectorized TYPE III material. Additionally, this section states that the reflectorized signs do not need to be illuminated during the period between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.

Section 2 provides for the effective date which is the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.

EXISTING LAW: Current law mandates two signs shall be conspicuously displayed designating an omnibus as a school bus by the use of the words "SCHOOL BUS" and creates standards for the size and color of the text. Additionally, current law requires that these signs be illuminated one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.

JUSTIFICATION: In recent years technology has advanced and made the illuminated sign requirement obsolete. The present technology for photo reflectorized coatings and graphics will allow a sign to be made economically, with industry-standard materials and offer advantages beyond the illuminated signs.

Currently, the illuminated signs provide greater cost, both initial and maintenance. The lights require additional wiring and are no longer a standard item for manufacturers - with New York and Maine being the only states that require this feature. Additionally, these lights accumulate snow and ice and are consequently often found to be the source of water leaks and the epicenter of structural corrosion. Both of these negative externalities can now be avoided with reflectorized coatings and graphics.

This technology also allows the text to conform to the curved shape of the bus design maintaining adequate visibility while slightly improving aerodynamics.

The incorporation of photo-reflective materials, similar to those used on traffic signs, for the "SCHOOL BUS" signs will enhance safety,

while decreasing the initial purchase and operating costs of New York's school bus fleet.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2009-2010 - S.8213

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Will provide cost savings to school districts by reducing the costs of new buses and bus maintenance.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the one hundred and twentieth day after it shall have become law.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________

1352--A

2011-2012 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

January 6, 2011
___________

Introduced  by  Sens. DILAN, DIAZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and
  when printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Transportation  --
  committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
  recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in  relation  to  signs  on
  school buses

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph (b) and paragraph (c) of subdi-
vision 20 of section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law, subparagraph  1
of paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 242 of the laws of 1992 and para-
graph  (c)  as amended by chapter 96 of the laws of 1973, are amended to
read as follows:
  (1) In addition to such signal lamps, two signs shall be conspicuously
displayed [on the exterior] CENTERED ON THE UPPER FRONT OF REAR EXTERIOR
BODY SURFACES of every such omnibus designating it as a  school  omnibus
by  the  use  of  the  words  "SCHOOL  BUS" [which]. SUCH SIGNS SHALL BE
CONSTRUCTED WITH REFLECTORIZED TYPE III MATERIAL AS REQUIRED BY  49  CFR
571.131  S6.1  TABLE  1 FOR BOTH THE BACKGROUND AND LETTERING. THE BACK-
GROUND SHALL BE NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS CHROME AND THE  LETTERING  SHALL  BE
BLACK.  THE LETTERING shall be painted or otherwise inscribed thereon in
black letters.  [Such letters] THE LETTERING shall be of  uniform  size,
at least eight inches in height, and each stroke of each letter shall be
not  less  than  one  inch in width.   [The background of each such sign
shall be painted the color known as "national school  bus  chrome."  For
each  such  omnibus having a seating capacity in excess of fifteen chil-
dren, such signs shall be securely mounted on top of such  vehicle,  one
of which shall be affixed on the front and one on the rear thereof.] For
each  such  omnibus  having  a seating capacity of not more than fifteen
children, such signs shall be securely mounted on top of  such  vehicle,
one  of  which shall face the front and one of which shall face the rear

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03022-02-1
S. 1352--A                          2

[thereof].  [Each] ALL such [sign] "SCHOOL BUS" SIGNS shall  be  visible
and readable from a point at least two hundred feet distant.
  (c)  In  the event such vehicle is operated on a public highway during
the period between one-half hour after sunset and one-half  hour  before
sunrise,  the  signs required by paragraph (b) of this subdivision shall
be illuminated as to be visible from a point at least five hundred  feet
distant.  REFLECTORIZED  SIGNS  ALLOWED IN SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF PARAGRAPH
(B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE ILLUMINATED.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the  commissioner  of
motor vehicles is authorized to promulgate any necessary rules and regu-
lations for the implementation of this act.