Section 1229-B. Operation of school, camp and charter omnibuses with passengers standing prohibited

1. When  the  number  of  passengers  is
  greater  than  the  number  of  seats available, it shall be unlawful to
  operate a camp or  charter  omnibus  upon  the  public  highways  for  a
  distance of ten miles or more with any passenger standing.
    2.  It  shall be unlawful to operate upon the public highways a school
  bus owned by or contracted to  a  school  district  with  any  passenger
  standing  whenever  it is employed exclusively for the transportation of
  students under the age of  twenty-one  and  teachers  or  other  persons
  acting in a supervisory capacity to or from school or school activities,
  except as provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision:
    (a)  Standing  passengers  may  be  permitted  on  such  a school bus,
  provided that the number of standing passengers on a  school  bus  shall
  not  exceed  the  limit  established  in  the following schedule for the
  applicable time period:
       Period:                              Not more than:
  Through June 30, 2001                 20% of approved seating capacity
  Between July 1, 2001 and              15% of approved seating capacity
   June 30, 2002
  Between July 1, 2002 and              10% of approved seating capacity
   June 30, 2003
  Between July 1, 2003 and              5% of approved seating capacity
   June 30, 2004
    (b) Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this  section  to  the
  contrary,  standing passengers may be permitted without limitation as to
  number during the first ten days of session in each school year, and  in
  circumstances   where   a   breakdown,  accident,  or  other  unforeseen
  occurrence necessitates the transportation of standing passengers.
    (c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed  to  restrict
  the  power  of  a city with a population of one million or more to adopt
  and enforce local laws that comply with at least the minimum  applicable
  standards set forth in this section.