02-17-2006, 10:36 AM
KID-TRANSPORT ABUSE LAW GETS SET TO ROLL
By LIAM HOULIHAN
New York Post
February 17, 2006
The alleged mistreatment of an autistic Staten Island boy at the hands of a school-bus driver and a matron has inspired tough new legislation aimed at better training those who transport schoolkids.
P.J.'s Law — named after 8-year-old P.J. Rossi, who The Post revealed last week was mercilessly mocked by a bus driver and escort as he repeatedly banged his head — would force school-bus personnel into ongoing sensitivity training, make school districts more liable for abuse and mandate that employees report suspected abuse or risk losing their jobs.
The measure was introduced yesterday by Assemblyman Peter Rivera, who was joined by the boy's teary mom, Lisa Rossi.
She called on the state Legislature to protect vulnerable children by supporting the law bearing her son's name.
"The bill is a needed step in the right direction of protecting the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society from the type of abuses so recently suffered by our son," she said.
P.J's traumatic experiences were discovered only after his mother, who suspected he was being mistreated on the bus, planted a tape recorder in his bag, catching the taunts and laughing of the driver and school attendant.
The Post story prompted legislators to suggest the sweeping changes.
Autism, disability and parent groups threw their weight behind the proposed new law.
"These are some of our most vulnerable children. These are children who can't sometimes tell mom and dad what happened," said Rosemary Heath, of the Association of Metro Area Autistic Children.
But the Department of Education argued the changes would make no difference if an incident like P.J's happened again.
Department spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said drivers and escorts already receive 30 hours of training, adding that administrators are working on a more detailed manual for bus workers and parents.
"The outrageous behavior by the crew on the bus in the Rossi incident has nothing to do with training," Feinberg said.
"While we appreciate the intentions of the legislation, we consider it an unfunded mandate that does not address what happened on that bus."
A loophole in the existing law leaves school-bus employees with no legal obligation to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment.
"With other incidents of abuse being reported across the state, and the current dramatic rise in children suffering autism, this proposed law . . . is a pragmatic and overdue remedy," said Rivera.
Under the new law, school-bus staff would receive standardized sensitivity classes twice a year and would be obliged, like teachers, to report suspected incidents of child abuse to the city Administration for Children's Services.
Rivera said bus workers who failed to report abuse could be fired from their jobs.
Police are investigating whether to charge the bus driver and matron who allegedly abused P.J., and the Rossi family is are suing the Department of Education for $4 million.
ENDS
By LIAM HOULIHAN
New York Post
February 17, 2006
The alleged mistreatment of an autistic Staten Island boy at the hands of a school-bus driver and a matron has inspired tough new legislation aimed at better training those who transport schoolkids.
P.J.'s Law — named after 8-year-old P.J. Rossi, who The Post revealed last week was mercilessly mocked by a bus driver and escort as he repeatedly banged his head — would force school-bus personnel into ongoing sensitivity training, make school districts more liable for abuse and mandate that employees report suspected abuse or risk losing their jobs.
The measure was introduced yesterday by Assemblyman Peter Rivera, who was joined by the boy's teary mom, Lisa Rossi.
She called on the state Legislature to protect vulnerable children by supporting the law bearing her son's name.
"The bill is a needed step in the right direction of protecting the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society from the type of abuses so recently suffered by our son," she said.
P.J's traumatic experiences were discovered only after his mother, who suspected he was being mistreated on the bus, planted a tape recorder in his bag, catching the taunts and laughing of the driver and school attendant.
The Post story prompted legislators to suggest the sweeping changes.
Autism, disability and parent groups threw their weight behind the proposed new law.
"These are some of our most vulnerable children. These are children who can't sometimes tell mom and dad what happened," said Rosemary Heath, of the Association of Metro Area Autistic Children.
But the Department of Education argued the changes would make no difference if an incident like P.J's happened again.
Department spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said drivers and escorts already receive 30 hours of training, adding that administrators are working on a more detailed manual for bus workers and parents.
"The outrageous behavior by the crew on the bus in the Rossi incident has nothing to do with training," Feinberg said.
"While we appreciate the intentions of the legislation, we consider it an unfunded mandate that does not address what happened on that bus."
A loophole in the existing law leaves school-bus employees with no legal obligation to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment.
"With other incidents of abuse being reported across the state, and the current dramatic rise in children suffering autism, this proposed law . . . is a pragmatic and overdue remedy," said Rivera.
Under the new law, school-bus staff would receive standardized sensitivity classes twice a year and would be obliged, like teachers, to report suspected incidents of child abuse to the city Administration for Children's Services.
Rivera said bus workers who failed to report abuse could be fired from their jobs.
Police are investigating whether to charge the bus driver and matron who allegedly abused P.J., and the Rossi family is are suing the Department of Education for $4 million.
ENDS