NY S07660

School districts wholly within Westchester, Putnam, Nassau, and Suffolk counties must follow collectively bargained agreements governing disciplinary actions for bus drivers and driver's assistants employed by contracted transportation entities

Districts cannot impose adverse disciplinary action against a driver or driver's assistant unless the superintendent certifies the conduct constituted "egregious misconduct that created a clear and present danger to the safety and welfare of any child"

When a superintendent makes such a certification, an expedited fact-finding process must be completed within 5 business days from the date of the alleged wrongdoing, bypassing standard grievance procedures

Drivers or driver's assistants who lose wages during an expedited process are entitled to punitive damages if the superintendent's determination is found improper or if they are exonerated of the underlying wrongdoing

Amends multiple sections of education law (1604, 1709, 2503, and 2554) to apply these requirements to various types of school districts including common school districts, union free school districts, and city school districts