LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

SENATE, No. 362

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 13, 1996

      Senate Bill No. 362 of 1996 requires the installation of a crossing control arm on all school buses with a chassis manufacture date on or after the first day of the sixth month following enactment. The bill provides, however, that the use of the crossing control arm will not be required on school bus routes where no pupil need cross a street prior to boarding or upon leaving the bus.

      A crossing control arm is a safety device which is attached to the right front corner of a school bus. Each time the bus door is opened, the arm extends outward from the front of the bus. Its purpose is to prevent children who must cross the street after exiting the bus from walking too close to the front where the driver may be unable to see them.

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) notes that the enactment of the bill would not result in any additional costs to the State since this bill does not contain any provision to require State reimbursement for the cost of installing crossing control arms. The entire cost of the bill would be borne by local school districts. OLS estimates that this bill could cost local school districts $300,000 in the first year based upon information provided by the Department of Education that the average cost for the factory installation of a crossing control arm is $300 per bus and there are approximately 1,000 new buses purchased each year.

      The legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.