SENATE, No. 1562

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 3, 1996

 

 

By Senators SINGER and KYRILLOS

 

 

An Act concerning the busing of certain school pupils and amending N.J.S.18A:39-1.1.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. N.J.S.18A:39-1.1 is amended to read as follows:

    18A:39-1.1. In addition to the provision of transportation for pupils pursuant to N.J.S.18A:39-1 and N.J.S.18A:46-23, the board of education of any district may provide, by contract or otherwise, in accordance with law and the rules and regulations of the State board, for the transportation of other pupils to and from school. If the board determines that the transportation of other pupils is necessary because of hazardous conditions which imperil the safety of the pupils, the transportation shall be deemed to be required for a thorough and efficient system of education, and the cost of the transportation shall be exempt from the calculation of the budget cap of the school district.

    Districts shall not receive State aid pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1990, c.52 (C.18A:7D-18) for the transportation of pupils pursuant to this section.

(cf: P.L.1990,c.52,s.52)

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the 1997-98 school year.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill specifies that a board of education may provide transportation for school pupils who do not otherwise qualify for busing if the board determines that the transportation is necessary because of hazardous conditions which imperil the safety of the pupils. If the transportation is provided, it would be deemed to be required for a thorough and efficient system of education, and the cost of the transportation would be exempt from the calculation of the budget cap of the school district.

    Under the current statutes and regulations, the busing of pupils for safety reasons, commonly known as "courtesy" busing, is subject to voter approval if the cost exceeds the school district's budget cap, and the Commissioner of Education may eliminate the service in reviewing a budget which was not approved at the annual school election.

 

 

                             

 

Permits school board to provide transportation for school pupils over hazardous routes and exempts cost from budget cap.