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:
Compliance required for assigning bus driver; violations; fine.
18A:39-20. No board of education or contractor shall approve or 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.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved November 8, 2021.