3627. Transportation after 4pm. 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, for the two thousand thirteen--two thousand fourteen and two thousand fourteen--two thousand fifteen school year and thereafter, a city school district located in a city having a population of one million or more providing transportation pursuant to this chapter shall be responsible for:
(a) providing transportation for those children attending public and nonpublic schools in grades kindergarten through six who remain at the same school for which they are enrolled for regularly scheduled academic classes from half-past nine o'clock in the morning or earlier until four o'clock in the afternoon or later, on weekdays, and reside at least one mile from their school of attendance for grades three through six, and at least one-half mile from their school of attendance for grades kindergarten through two or
(b) reimbursing the cost incurred by licensed transportation carriers pursuant to contracts with such school district for providing transportation for those children attending public and nonpublic schools in grades kindergarten through six who remain at the same school for which they are enrolled for regularly scheduled academic classes from half-past nine o'clock in the morning or earlier until four o'clock in the afternoon or later, on weekdays, and reside at least one mile from their school of attendance for grades three through six, and at least one-half mile from their school of attendance for grades kindergarten through two.
2. Nothing herein shall prohibit the school district from reimbursing for costs incurred for contracts between the school district and any entity providing or contracting for such transportation service.
3. A district shall not be deemed to have satisfied its obligation under this section by providing public service transportation.
4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any expenditures for transportation provided pursuant to this section in the two thousand thirteen--two thousand fourteen school year and thereafter and otherwise eligible for transportation aid pursuant to subdivision seven of section thirty-six hundred two of this article shall be considered approved transportation expenses eligible for transportation aid, provided further that for the two thousand thirteen--two thousand fourteen school year such aid shall be limited to eight million one hundred thousand dollars and for the two thousand fourteen--two thousand fifteen school year such aid shall be limited to the sum of twelve million six hundred thousand dollars plus the base amount and for the two thousand fifteen--two thousand sixteen school year and thereafter such aid shall be limited to the sum of seventeen million one hundred thousand dollars plus the base amount. For purposes of this subdivision, "base amount" means the amount of transportation aid paid to the school district for expenditures incurred in the two thousand twelve--two thousand thirteen school year for transportation that would have been eligible for aid pursuant to this section had this section been in effect in such school year, except that subdivision six of this section shall be deemed not to have been in effect. And provided further that the school district shall continue to annually expend for the transportation described in subdivision one of this section at least the expenditures used for the base amount.
5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, in no event shall such city school district, in order to comply with the requirements of this section, be required to incur any costs in excess of the amount eligible for transportation aid pursuant to subdivision four of this section. In the event such amount is insufficient, the city school district of New York shall provide transportation services within such amount on an equitable basis, until such apportionment is exhausted.
6. The chancellor of such school district, in consultation with the commissioner, shall prescribe the most cost effective system for implementing the requirements of this section, taking into consideration: (a) the costs associated with paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision one of this section, and (b) policies that attempt to maximize student safety for the student to be transported, which for purposes of this section shall include whether the pick up or drop off site of the transportation is:
(i) not further than 600 feet from the student's residence; and/or
(ii) at the same locations for any family that have children at the same residence who attend two or more different schools.
7. (a) In the event the chancellor has not satisfied a district's obligation under this section, a parent or guardian or any representative authorized by such parent or guardian of a child eligible to receive transportation under this section may request the commissioner to arrange for the provision of the transportation to so satisfy the requirements of this section.
(b) If within sixty days of receiving a request from such a parent or guardian or any representative authorized by such parent or guardian, the commissioner determines that the chancellor has not satisfied a district's obligation under this section, then the commissioner shall immediately direct the chancellor to contract with a licensed transportation carrier to provide the transportation required pursuant to this section.
(c) In the event the chancellor is directed by the commissioner to contract with a licensed transportation carrier to provide the transportation required pursuant to this section, the chancellor shall provide the commissioner with a copy of such proposed contract, before it becomes effective, and the commissioner shall have the power to approve, disapprove or require amendments to such contract before it shall become effective.
(d) A district, determined by the commissioner to not be in compliance with the requirements of this section, shall be responsible for the cost of any transportation contract awarded by the chancellor.
8. The parent or guardian, or any representative authorized by such parent or guardian, may submit a written request for transportation under this section, in the same manner and upon the same dates as are required for a request for transportation pursuant to subdivision two of section thirty-six hundred thirty-five of this article.
Last modified: February 3, 2019