Thanks to a letter sent to the local newspaper, the state senate passed legislation that expands the list of crimes that prohibits a person from becoming a school bus driver.

S.3100 passed on March 7 to add about two dozen types of felony convictions to the penal code that saw its last update in 1986. It now heads to the assembly. Sen. John Bonacic said David Moraca, the director of transportation for the Onteora Central School District in Boiceville, N.Y., about 10 miles west of Woodstock, was instrumental in getting the bill introduced.

Moraca, also a member of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation, penned a letter to the editor of the Daily Freeman in January expressing his frustration with the issue. Bonacic and his staffers saw the Moraca's opinion and got in touch with him to learn more.

“This legislation is essential to protect students,” said Bonacic. “Without updating Section 509 of the Penal Code violations, an individual convicted of a variety of sex crimes, including crimes against children would be able to pass the required background check and become a school bus driver.

"I commend David Moraca’s efficient dedication to protecting the children in his district, not only will his competency protect the children in Onetora School District, but all of the children in New York State."

New crimes for which a conviction would permanently ban a person from being a school bus driver include: reckless assault of a child; aggravated assault upon a person less than 11 years old; vehicular manslaughter in the first degree; sexual misconduct; rape in the third degree; forcible touching; persistent sexual abuse; sexual abuse in the third, second or first degree; aggravated sexual abuse in the third or second degree; course of sexual conduct against a child in the first or second degree; female genital mutilation; predatory sexual assault; predatory sexual assault against a child; disseminating indecent material to minors in the second or first degree; unlawfully dealing with a child in the first or second degree; use of a child in a sexual performance; promoting or possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child; and promoting or possessing a sexual performance by a child.