LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 780

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 20, 1996

      Senate Bill No. 780 (1R) of 1996 requires the Commissioner of Education to identify and publish a list of local boards of education, educational services commissions, and any other established agencies providing cooperative transportation services. Any school district responsible for the transportation of pupils to and from a school, other than a local district school, shall utilize one of the agencies identified by the commissioner for the transportation of the pupils, except when the local district can provide transportation at a lower cost than those agencies.

      Under the provisions of the bill, any school district which has in the prior year provided payments in lieu of transportation for any nonpublic school pupil shall attempt to provide transportation through an agency identified by the commissioner prior to determining to pay aid in-lieu-of transportation. If the costs to provide transportation by the agency identified by the commissioner are less than the in lieu of payments, the agency shall provide transportation. The county superintendents are required to assist local boards of education and the chief school administrators of nonpublic schools in coordinating the calendars and schedules of the public and nonpublic schools to facilitate the coordination of pupil transportation in a county.

      The Office of Legislative (OLS) notes that the enactment of this bill would not result in any additional costs to the State for the Department of Education (DOE) to identify and publish a list of local boards of education, educational services commissions, and other established agencies providing cooperative transportation services. DOE indicates that it would be able to absorb the additional responsibilities imposed under the bill with current staff members. OLS also notes that this bill would generate savings for those local school districts that are able to utilize more cost effective cooperative transportation services and/or provide transportation services to nonpublic school pupils instead of making in-lieu-of payments.

      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.