N.Y. VAT Law § 1229-B

§ 1229-b. Operation of school, camp and charter omnibuses with\npassengers standing prohibited. 1. When the number of passengers is\ngreater than the number of seats available, it shall be unlawful to\noperate a camp or charter omnibus upon the public highways for a\ndistance of ten miles or more with any passenger standing.\n 2. It shall be unlawful to operate upon the public highways a school\nbus owned by or contracted to a school district with any passenger\nstanding whenever it is employed exclusively for the transportation of\nstudents under the age of twenty-one and teachers or other persons\nacting in a supervisory capacity to or from school or school activities,\nexcept as provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision:\n (a) Standing passengers may be permitted on such a school bus,\nprovided that the number of standing passengers on a school bus shall\nnot exceed the limit established in the following schedule for the\napplicable time period:\n Period: Not more than:\nThrough June 30, 2001 20% of approved seating capacity\nBetween July 1, 2001 and 15% of approved seating capacity\n June 30, 2002\nBetween July 1, 2002 and 10% of approved seating capacity\n June 30, 2003\nBetween July 1, 2003 and 5% of approved seating capacity\n June 30, 2004\n (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the\ncontrary, standing passengers may be permitted without limitation as to\nnumber during the first ten days of session in each school year, and in\ncircumstances where a breakdown, accident, or other unforeseen\noccurrence necessitates the transportation of standing passengers.\n (c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to restrict\nthe power of a city with a population of one million or more to adopt\nand enforce local laws that comply with at least the minimum applicable\nstandards set forth in this section.\n