An Act concerning unauthorized school bus drivers and amending N.J.S.18A:39-20.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.18A:39-20 is amended to read as follows:
18A:39-20. No board of education or contractor shall [knowingly] approve or [knowingly] assign an individual, as a driver or substitute driver of a school bus, without first complying with the provisions of this chapter, and any person violating, or failing to comply with such provisions shall be subject to a fine of:
a. not more than $5,000 for each driver unlawfully approved or assigned for the first offense;
b. not more than $10,000 for each driver unlawfully approved or assigned for the second offense; and
c. not more than $15,000 for each driver unlawfully approved or assigned for a third and each subsequent offense.
It shall not be a defense to avoid liability under this section that a board of education or contractor unknowingly failed to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(cf: P.L.2003, c.66, s.5)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends current law to hold a board of
education or school bus contractor responsible if they approve or assign an
individual, as a driver or substitute driver of a school bus, without first
complying with the provisions of law concerning the training, certification,
and criminal history record checks of school bus drivers. The bill increases
the fines associated with such an action from not more than $5,000 for each
offense to not more than $5,000 for the first offense, not more than $10,000
for the second offense, and not more than $15,000 for a third and each
subsequent offense. The bill clarifies that it will not be a defense to avoid
liability that a board of education or contractor unknowingly failed to comply
with the provisions of law concerning the training, certification, and criminal
history record checks of school bus drivers.
Revises violation and fines for approving or assigning unauthorized individuals as school bus drivers.