NY A07749

Requires school districts in cities with at least one million inhabitants to include retention or preference provisions for school bus workers in contracts for pupil transportation in grades K-12, whether awarded through competitive bidding or proposal evaluation.

Defines "school bus worker" as operators, mechanics, dispatchers, or attendants employed as of June 30, 2010 or later by contractors or subcontractors who were furloughed or became unemployed due to loss or reduction of transportation contracts.

Mandates preservation of wages, health, welfare, and retirement benefits and seniority rights for school bus workers hired under retention or preference provisions, with contract costs for these provisions to be separately identified.

Requires annual reporting by affected school districts to the director of the division of the budget and legislative committees beginning July 30, 2020, detailing results of worker retention efforts, contract provisions, and cost increases.

Adjusts state aid calculations for substitute transportation contracts by reducing eligible expenditures by the identified incremental costs attributable solely to the retention or preference in hiring provisions for the original contract term.