Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman P. CHRISTOPHER TULLY
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school bus contractor to provide information to board of education on results of criminal background checks of all school bus drivers assigned routes in district pursuant to contract.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning school bus drivers and amending N.J.S.18A:39-18.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.18A:39-18 is amended to read as follows:
18A:39-18. a. In each school year, prior to the beginning of transportation of school pupils under a contract awarded by a board of education, the contractor shall furnish to the executive county superintendent of schools the name, social security number, and certification of a valid school bus driver's license and criminal background check, and evidence of a check for the driver's record of alcohol and drug-related motor vehicle violations pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1989, c.104 (C.18A:39-19.1) of each driver or substitute driver to be assigned to any vehicle in the performance of his contract.
b. In each school year, prior to the beginning of transportation of school pupils under a contract awarded by a board of education, the contractor shall furnish to the board of education a criminal background check certification letter from the State for each school bus driver or substitute driver assigned to any vehicle in the performance of a contract with the board. If a new driver or substitute driver is assigned a route during the school year, the contractor shall furnish a criminal background check certification letter to the board for that individual.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.66, s.3)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Currently, prior to the beginning of transportation of school pupils under a contract awarded by a board of education, a school bus contractor is required to furnish to the executive county superintendent of schools the name, social security number, and certification of a valid school bus driver's license and criminal background check, and evidence of a check for the driver's record of alcohol and drug-related motor vehicle violations of each driver or substitute driver to be assigned to any vehicle in the performance of his contract.
This bill would require that in addition, the school bus contractor every year would be required to furnish to the appropriate board of education a criminal background check certification letter from the State for each school bus driver or substitute driver assigned to any vehicle in the performance of a contract with that board.