In August of 2018, Governor Cuomo signed a bill into law that amends the vehicle and traffic law and education law to require pre-employment and ongoing random drug and alcohol testing of school bus drivers who were not previously subjected to testing. School bus drivers in New York State who were driving small school buses (type-A buses), carrying less than 16 passengers, were not subjected to pre-employment or random drug and alcohol testing.

Governor Cuomo, New York State legislature, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation and New York School Bus Contractors Association demonstrated an unwavering commitment to school bus safety by working together to enact this very important law.

Suffolk Transportation President, John J. Corrado, has long supported and advocated for a law that would mandate that every school bus driver in New York State be included in the pool of drivers who are subjected to random drug and alcohol testing.

“It was an industry-wide effort that began in 2013 and it would not have happened without the entire New York school transportation family working together,” said Corrado. “I’m thankful to everyone who helped get the law passed and that New York State now requires random pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol testing for every person who drives a yellow school bus.”

The new law will strengthen current oversight of school bus drivers by ensuring that all school bus drivers are subject to preemployment and random drug and alcohol testing and are part of the pool for random testing.

Suffolk Transportation Service, Inc. President, John J. Corrado is seen here delivering testimony about the importance of random drug testing of school bus drivers at a school bus safety public hearing held at SUNY Farmingdale by the New York State Senate back in May of 2013.