Sponsored by:

Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman JASON O'DONNELL

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblyman CHARLES MAINOR

District 31 (Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Eustace, Assemblywoman Caride, Assemblyman Schaer, Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblymen Cryan, Egan, Wisniewski and Coughlin

SYNOPSIS

Allows for waiver of school bus requirements for mobility assistance vehicle technicians who transport students with medical needs to and from school.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

An Act concerning the transportation of students with certain medical needs and amending P.L.1981, c.51.

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

1. Section 1 of P.L.1981, c.51 (C.18A:39-20.1) is amended to read as follows:

1. a. Notwithstanding any statute or regulation to the contrary, any board of education, governing body of a nonpublic school or State agency may authorize qualified school personnel, State employees or parents, to transport school children to and from related school activities in a private vehicle with a capacity of eight or less. Any person authorized by a board, body or agency to provide such transportation services shall not be required to be licensed or regulated as a school bus driver. Such transportation shall be exempt from all registration, equipment, inspection and maintenance requirements imposed on the transportation of pupils by school bus.

b. Notwithstanding any statute or regulation to the contrary, any board of education, governing body of a nonpublic school or State agency may authorize a person certified as a mobility assistance vehicle technician to transport a student with medical needs to and from school or related school activities in a mobility assistance vehicle. Any certified mobility assistance vehicle technician authorized by a board, body or agency to provide such transportation services shall not be required to be licensed or regulated as a school bus driver. Such transportation shall be exempt from all registration, equipment, inspection and maintenance requirements imposed on the transportation of students by a school bus.

Each year prior to transporting students, a certified mobility assistance vehicle technician who transports a student with medical needs in accordance with this section shall furnish to the county superintendent a criminal history background check and evidence of a check for the technician's record of alcohol and drug-related motor vehicle violations in the performance of his contract.

For the purposes of this subsection, "student with medical needs," means a school-aged child who suffers from a life-threatening medical condition, and as a result of such condition, requires more individualized and continuous care.

(cf: P.L.1981, c.51, s.1)

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill allows any board of education, governing body of a nonpublic school, or State agency to waive school bus operating requirements for any person certified as a mobility assistance vehicle technician (MAVT) who transports a student with medical needs to and from school. Persons certified as MAVTs are responsible for safely moving injured or disabled persons who need specialized transportation assistance. In certain cases, students with special medical needs require transportation to and from school by someone with a mobility assistance certification.

This bill would allow for a waiver of the school bus licensing requirements for MAVTs who transport students with medical needs. All registration, equipment, inspection and maintenance requirements relating to the transportation of students by a school bus would also be waived. The bill specifies, however, that all MAVTs who provide transportation to students would be required to submit criminal history background information and a record of alcohol and drug-related motor vehicle violations to the county school superintendent each year. "Student with medical needs" is defined under the bill as a school-aged child who suffers from a life-threatening medical condition, and as a result of such condition, requires more individualized and continuous care.