Bill Text: NJ S2390 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires pupil transportation for certain kindergarten students attending enrichment programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-09-18 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S2390 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S2390-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Requires pupil transportation for certain kindergarten students attending enrichment programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning pupil transportation and supplementing chapter 39 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. If a school district provides a half-day, morning kindergarten program and transports pupils, eligible for transportation services to the kindergarten program pursuant to N.J.S.18A:39-1, to an enrichment program after the kindergarten program, the district shall permit a student, who is otherwise not eligible for transportation services to the kindergarten program, to receive transportation services to the enrichment program provided that there is available space on the bus route.
The parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of the student shall pay all or part of the costs of the transportation, including, but not limited to, the cost of fuel, driver salaries, and insurance. The costs of the transportation shall be paid at the time and in the manner determined by the board of education. The parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody shall pay no more than the per pupil cost of the route for the transportation provided pursuant to this section. A board of education may not exclude from the transportation any student whose parent, legal guardian, or other person having legal custody is unable to pay the cost of that transportation because of financial hardship. In determining financial hardship, the criteria shall be the same as the Statewide eligibility standards established by the State Board of Education for free and reduced price meals under the State school lunch program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be first applicable to the 2014-2015 school year.
STATEMENT
Under the provisions of this bill, if a school district provides a half-day, morning kindergarten program and transports pupils, who are eligible for transportation services to the kindergarten program, to an enrichment program after the kindergarten program, the district must allow students, who by law are not eligible for transportation services to the kindergarten program, to be transported to the enrichment program. The provision of this transportation service is contingent upon a seat on the bus being available. The parents or guardian of the student would also be responsible for the cost of the transportation service, unless the parent or guardian is unable to pay the cost because of financial hardship.
