No school bus driver (or any school district employee for that matter) should be in close proximity to children without having passed a criminal background investigation. That is why it is important for New York state elected officials to read Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's investigation of 13 bus companies from across the state and take the lead in getting legislation passed that reduces the amount of time bus drivers can work while background checks are being conducted. That period of time can range to up to 90 days.
In the comptroller audit of companies, none were found to employ criminals, thankfully. But as DiNapoli noted: “We have the technology to make this process faster and protect our kids better.”
Currently, state law requires all bus drivers to have commercial drivers' licenses, pass medical and driving tests every two years and maintain a safe driving record. New school bus drivers also have to be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal background investigation. That can take as long as three months, and that is where there is a problem.
Earlier this week, DiNapoli said the state Department of Motor Vehicles, which oversees bus drivers, should use scanning technology to verify fingerprints of school bus drivers more quickly. The DMV already does this for drivers who transport hazardous materials.
New York Legislature can help by passing legislation that mandates the waiting period be shortened and then helping to set up ways to accomplish this in an efficient manner. No school children should be inadvertently put in danger while a background investigation is completed.
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