ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--“PUMP THE BRAKES” IS THE MESSAGE FROM REPUBLICAN lawmakers IN ALBANY THIS WEEK SURROUNDING GOV. KATHY HOCHUL’S ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS MANDATE.  

THE STATE MANDATE ENACTED IN 2022 REQUIRES LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PURCHASE NEW BUSES TO BE ALL ELECTRIC BY 2027 AND ALL SCHOOL BUSES IN OPERATION STATEWIDE TO BE ALL ELECTRIC BY 2035.  

SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE INTRODUCED legislation TO DELAY THE MANDATE UNTIL AT LEAST 2045 AND REQUIRE ADDITIONAL COST-BENEFIT AND SAFETY ANALYSIS.  

“This is really the mother of all unfunded mandates that’s going to be placed on our school districts, billions upon billions of dollars. And we’re not just talking about the purchase of the electric school buses, which we know are about four to four hundred fifty thousand dollars, we’re talking about significant electric upgrades,” said Assembly Member Phil Palmesano (R-Corning).

THE STATE’S ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ACT, APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2022, INCLUDES $500 MILLION TO HELP SCHOOLS TRANSITION THEIR BUSES TO ZERO-EMISSIONS IN ADDITION TO FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.  

SOME DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SAid THEY ARE TAKING STEPS TO HELP SCHOOLS NAVIGATE THE TRANSITION. 

“We are talking with our school districts, and we are working with them in terms of resources and the availability of resources,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-35th Senate District).

Other Democratic lawmakers said there is ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS.  

“We understand this is a big lift but there is currently plenty of money out there for folks to get started,” said Sen. Pete Harckham (D-40th Senate District).

SOME LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAid THEY WON’T HAVE ENOUGH IN-STATE DOLLARS OR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO FOLLOW THIS MANDATE PUTTING THE FINANCIAL STRESS ON THEM

“There are all these programs, but they don’t fully cover the cost and all the speaking points are we will do this, and it will be covered by the state, five-hundred million dollars—that's nowhere near the amount of money that they would have to contribute just for the buses,” said Dr. Tom Douglas, Horseheads superintendent.

THE LEGISLATION TO DELAY THIS MANDATE IS CURRENTLY IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES.