Bill Text: NJ S4259 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns safety equipment on certain school buses transporting children with special needs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-12-28 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S4259 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-S4259-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator DOUGLAS J. STEINHARDT
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns safety equipment on certain school buses transporting children with special needs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the transportation of children and supplementing chapter 3B of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, every Type S school bus that transports one or more children with special needs shall be equipped with electric identification and warning lamps which, when the bus has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any child, shall exhibit a flashing red light plainly visible at a distance that will enable the driver of a vehicle following, approaching, or overtaking the bus to see the red light in sufficient time to bring the vehicle to a stop not closer than within 10 feet of the bus. The warning lamps shall meet the requirements prescribed by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes or any rule or regulation made pursuant to that title.
As used in this section, "Type S school bus" means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 3,000 pounds or more, originally designed by the manufacturer with a maximum seating capacity of nine passengers or less excluding the driver, operated by, or under contract with, a public or governmental agency, or religious or other charitable organization or corporation, or privately operated for the transportation of children to or from school for secular or religious education, school-connected activity, day camp, summer day camp, nursery school, child care center, preschool center, or other similar places of education.
2. Every school bus as defined under R.S.39:1-1 and every Type S school bus as defined in section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), which was originally designed to carry less than 10 passengers, that transports one or more children with special needs, shall be equipped with a crossing control arm at the right front corner of the school bus.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires certain school buses transporting children with special needs to have specified safety features.
The bill requires a Type S school bus that transports one or more children with special needs to be equipped with electric identification and warning lamps which, when the bus is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any child, is required to exhibit a flashing red light plainly visible at a distance that will enable the driver of a vehicle following, approaching, or overtaking the bus to see the red light in sufficient time to bring the vehicle to a stop not closer than within 10 feet of the bus.
Additionally, the bill requires standard school buses and Type S school buses designed to carry less than 10 passengers that transport one or more children with special needs to be equipped with a crossing control arm at the right front corner of the school bus.
