Bill could require GPS tracking for school buses

A newly proposed bill could help parents who worry about their children's safety once they board school buses.
Parents tell News 12 their anxiety begins when the bus doors close. They're flooded with questions like whether their kids are safe or if they will get to school and back home on time.
City lawmakers have a possible solution to those worries in the form of an app. They're proposing a bill that would require an app with GPS tracking and two-way communication for all New York City yellow school buses.
Officials say it's in response to years of frustration. In September alone, according to city estimates, students experienced over 27,000 bus-related delays -- a headache for students trying to get to class on time. It’s also a nightmare for many parents who say they're constantly worried about where their kids are, and if they're being cared for.
Melissa Allende, parent to a son with autism who is unable to communicate his needs, says GPS tracking is a step in the right direction.
If the bill is signed into law, every parent could have an app to track their kids and communicate with their bus driver by sometime next year.
The city Department of Education says two-thirds of school buses are currently equipped with GPS tracking and that it is looking into the suggestions included in the bill.
Officials are looking to create a new Twitter handle for added communication to families regarding closures and other events that could impact service.