Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override and agree to the Governor's conditional veto and pass a bill that authorizes certain individuals to operate Type S school buses in New Jersey.

Highlights:

• Defines a “Type S school bus” as a school vehicle intended to transport disabled students to and from school (Sec. 1):

• School vehicles must weigh more than 3,000 pounds; or

• School vehicles must be designed to hold less than 9 passengers.

• Requires certain conditions to be eligible to receive a license to drive type S school busses, as follows (Sec. 1):

• Driver must be 21 or older and have held a license for at least 3 years;

• The driver has passed a physical and eye examination; and

• Driver must complete a training program on appropriate methods to interact with disabled students.

• Classifies miscellaneous school bus driver offenses to include type S school bus drivers (Sec. 1)

• Requires similar conditions for school personnel to receive authorization from their school to drive type S school busses (Sec. 2):

• Driver must be 21 or older and hold a New Jersey driver's license for at least 3 years;

• The driver has passed a physical and eye examination;

• Driver must complete a criminal background check and a child abuse record check;

• Driver must complete a training program on appropriate methods to interact with disabled students; and

• Drivers are prohibited from driving a vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats.

• Requires the Board of Education, governing body of a nonpublic school, or state agency responsible for authorizing school bus drivers to release their list of school bus drivers for the year (Sec. 2):

• Prohibits anyone not on the list from driving a school bus for the school year; and

• Requires these groups to periodically collect drivers’ driving records showing their drivers have no disqualifying motor vehicle violations.

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Phil Murphy