[Second Reprint]
SENATE, No. 780
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 15, 1996
By Senators KYRILLOS and PALAIA
An Act concerning the transportation of school pupils 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. a. The Commissioner of Education shall identify and publish a list of local school boards of education, educational services commissions, 2county special services school districts,2 and any other established agencies providing cooperative transportation services.
b. Any school district responsible for the transportation of pupils to and from a school, other than a local district school, pursuant to N.J.S.18A:39-1 2which transports pupils to a county vocational school and pupils classified pursuant to chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes2 shall utilize one of the agencies identified by the commissioner for the transportation of the pupils 2[, except when the local district can provide transportation at a lower cost than those agencies] .Transportation by one of the agencies shall not be required when the local district can provide transportation at a lower cost than those agencies, or the transportation to be provided by one of the agencies does not fall within the policies of the resident school district regarding length of ride and assignment of students to a route based on student age or classification2 .
c. Any school district which has in the prior year provided payments in lieu of transportation for any nonpublic school pupil pursuant to N.J.S.18A:39-1 2or which cannot provide transportation in the ensuing school year2 shall attempt to provide transportation through an agency identified by the commissioner prior to determining to pay aid in lieu of transportation. 2The school district shall provide to the agency any unique limitations or restrictions of the required transportation.2 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. 2The school district shall make the determination on the manner in which transportation services shall be provided and shall notify the nonpublic school and the parent or guardian of the nonpublic school pupil by August 1 prior to the beginning of the school year.2
d. The county superintendents shall assist local boards of education 1and the chief school administrators of nonpublic schools1 in coordinating the calendars and schedules of the public 1and nonpublic1 schools to facilitate the coordination of transportation of pupils to and from school in their respective county.
22. The commissioner shall report to the Governor and the Legislature within three years following the effective date of this act on its effectiveness in promoting regionalized transportation services and the advisability of expanding the provisions of the act to transportation services provided to other pupils.2
2[2.] 3.2 This act shall take effect immediately 1[ and shall first apply to the 1996-1997 school year]1.
Provides for development of regionalized school pupil transportation.