Bill Text: NJ S2607 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-05-06 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [S2607 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S2607-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Corrado and Burgess
SYNOPSIS
Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Transportation Committee on February 15, 2024, with amendments.
An Act concerning requirements for certain private bus operators and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. 1For the purposes of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), "motorbus regular route service" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 3 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-3), except that "motorbus regular route service" shall not include "charter bus operation," "special bus operation," or "casino bus operation" as those terms are defined in R.S.48:4-1 and shall not include a motorbus route predominately operated for tourism or recreational purposes.
b.1 Each private entity that operates motorbus regular route service, as that term is defined in 1[section 3 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-3)] subsection a. of this section1, or portions or functions thereof shall:
(1) provide at least four months written notice to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and the New Jersey Transit Corporation prior to the substantial curtailment, as that term is defined in section 8 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-8), of such service;
(2) provide at least three months written notice to the service's customers prior to the substantial curtailment of such service; and
(3) hold at least one public meeting in the affected area, as close as possible to the highest trafficked stop on the route, within 15 days after providing notice to the service's customers pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection. Prior to holding the public meeting, the private entity shall provide written notice of the public meeting to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, the New Jersey Transit Corporation, as well as the State legislators representing any legislative district, the mayor and governing body of any municipality, and the board of county commissioners of any county that will be affected by the substantial curtailment of such service.
1[b] c1. A private entity that is determined to be in violation of subsection 1[a] b1. of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, in addition to any penalties that may be available pursuant to law.
1[c] d1. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section and shall take any action necessary to ensure that private entities are in compliance with the provisions of subsection 1[a] b1. of this section.
1[d] e1. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the New Jersey Transit Corporation or any other instrumentality of the State that provides funds or compensation to a private entity from conditioning participation in any program, receipt of funds, or entry into a contractual agreement on adherence to the notice and public meeting requirements provided in this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
