Bill Text: NJ S267 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Transportation for Hazardous Walking Routes Act; requires school districts to provide busing for students required to walk to school along hazardous routes and prohibits school bus stops within 250 feet of residence of sex offender.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S267 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S267-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Transportation for Hazardous Walking Routes Act; requires school districts to provide busing for students required to walk to school along hazardous routes and prohibits school bus stops within 250 feet of residence of sex offender.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning school busing, amending P.L.1999, c. 310, 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. (New section) A school district shall not locate a school bus stop within 250 feet of the residence of a sex offender whose risk of re-offense has been determined to be moderate or high pursuant to subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.1994, c.128 (C.2C:7-8), unless the relocation of the school bus stop creates a more dangerous condition for a student. In making this determination, the school district shall consult with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality.
2. Section 2 of P.L.1999, c.310 (C.18A:39-1.5) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. A school district that provides [courtesy] busing services shall adopt a policy [regarding] requiring the transportation of students who must walk to and from school along hazardous routes. The policy shall include a list of hazardous routes in the district requiring the [courtesy] busing of students and the criteria used in designating the hazardous routes. In adopting its policy, the school district [may] shall consider, but shall not be limited to, the following criteria:
(1) Population density;
(2) Traffic volume;
(3) Average vehicle velocity;
(4) Existence or absence of sufficient sidewalk space;
(5) Roads and highways that are winding or have blind curves;
(6) Roads and highways with steep inclines and declines;
(7) Drop-offs that are in close proximity to a sidewalk;
(8) Bridges or overpasses that must be crossed to reach the school;
(9) Train tracks or trestles that must be crossed to reach the school; [and]
(10) Busy roads or highways that must be crossed to reach the school; and
(11) Location of residences of sex offenders whose risk of re-offense has been determined to be moderate or high pursuant to subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.1994, c.128 (2C:7-8).
b. A school district shall work in conjunction with municipal officials in determining the criteria necessary for the designation of
a hazardous route.
c. Any additional costs incurred by a school district in implementing P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before Legislature as this bill) shall be borne by the State.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.310, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first be applicable to the 2012-2013 school year.
STATEMENT
The bill prohibits a school district from locating a school bus stop within 250 feet of the residence of a moderate or high risk sex offender unless the relocation of the school bus stop creates a more dangerous condition for a student. In making this determination, the school district is required to consult with the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality.
This bill will require school districts that provide any busing services to adopt a policy requiring the transportation of students who must walk along hazardous routes. The policy must include a list of hazardous routes in the district that will require the busing of students. One of the criteria the district must use in adopting its policy is the location of the residences of sex offenders whose risk of re-offense has been determined to be moderate or high pursuant to law. Any additional costs which will be incurred by a district in implementing the provisions of the bill will be borne by the State.
