S 2456 — Requires school bus drivers and school bus aides to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transporting students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features.*

S2456 1R [First Reprint] SENATE, No.

Senators Corrado, Singleton, McKnight, Moriarty, Holzapfel, BurgessBurgess, Henry and HenryBeach         SYNOPSIS      Requires school bus personneldrivers membersand school bus aides to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies;

requires certain school buses transporting students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features;features.

makes  appropriation.CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on June 24, 2026, with amendments.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

a.a.  As used in this section, "employer" means a board of education or a contractor that provides pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education.

As     usedb.    inAn thisemployer section,shall "employer"ensure meansthat aall boardschool bus drivers [and] 1[,] and1 school bus aides1[, and other school bus personnel subject to the provisions of educationsections or4 athrough contractor6 thatof providesP.L.    pupil, transportationc.     services(C.        ) (pending underbefore contractthe withLegislature aas boardthis bill)]1 are properly trained for the functions of education.their positions.

     b.   c.     An employer shall ensureadminister thata safety education program for all permanent and substitute school bus drivers [and] ,1[,] and1 school bus aides,aides1[, and other school bus personnel subject to the provisions of sections 4 through 6 of P.L.    , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)bill)]1 arethat properlyit trainedemploys.  forAt thea functionsminimum, ofthe theirtraining positions.shall include:

     c.     An employer shall administer a safety education program for all permanent and substitute school bus drivers [and] , school bus aides, and other school bus personnel subject to the provisions of sections 4 through 6 of P.L.    , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) that it employs.  At a minimum, the training shall include:

and1[and]1      (7)   the use of a student's education records, including the employee's responsibility to ensure the privacy of the student and the student's records, if applicable.applicable1;

and      (8)   understanding behaviors or other signs that may indicate circumstances in which a potential life-threatening emergency, as defined in section 4 of P.L.    , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), is occurring on a school bus1.

of this section twice per calendar year. year. (cf:

     1f.   An employer shall require a school bus driver and school bus aide to file a certification with the employer that the individual has completed the training program within five days of its completion.  The employer shall retain a copy of the certification for the duration of the individual’s employment.  A board of education shall forward a copy of the certification to the Department of Education.  A contractor providing pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education shall forward a copy of the certification to the board of education to which the contractor is providing services, and the board shall then forward the certification to the Department of Education.1 (cf:

     1.    The Commissioner of Education shall develop a training program for school bus drivers [and] ,1[,] and1 school bus aides,aides1[, and other school bus personnel subject to the provisions of sections 4 through 6 of P.L.    , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)bill)]1 on proper procedures for interacting with students with [special needs] disabilities.  The training program shall include, but need1[need]1 not be limited to, the following:

and      e.     understanding behaviors or other signs that may indicate circumstances in which a potential life-threatening emergency, as defined in section 4 of P.L.    , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), is occurring on a school bus transporting1[transporting one or more students with disabilities.disabilities]1.

     The commissioner shall make the training program available to boards of education and school bus contractors providing pupil transportation services under contract with boards of education no later than one year following the effective date of [this act] P.L.2015, c.123 (C.18A:39-19.2 et seq.).  The training program shall be updated to include information on understanding behaviors or other signs that may indicate circumstances in which a potential life-threatening emergency is occurring on a school bus transporting1[transporting one or more students with disabilities,disabilities,]1and and1be1 made available to school districts, no later than 180 days following the effective date of P.L.

     (2)  An1[An employer shall also administer the training program developed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.123 (C.18A:39-19.2) to all other school bus personnel subject to the provisions of sections 4 through 6 of P.L.    , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

 In the case of an individual who is already working, and is otherwise responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities upon the enactment of P.L.    , c.     (C.       (C.     )   ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the employer shall administer the training program to the individual no later than 90 days following the update to the training program to include information on understanding behaviors or other signs that may indicate circumstances in which a potential life-threatening emergency is occurring.  In the case of an individual who works, and is otherwise responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities after the enactment of P.L.    , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the employer shall administer the training program to the individual prior to that individual first working, and engaging in responsibilities related to the safety of students, on a school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities.

      (3) (3)]1  Following the initial administration of the training program pursuant to paragraphs1[paragraphs] paragraph1 (1) and1[and (2)(2)]1 of this subsection, an employer shall administer the training program twice per calendar year.

     b.    An employer shall require [that] a school bus driver [or] ,1[,] and a1 school bus aide,aide1[, or any other individual employed as a school bus personnel membermember]1 to file a certification with the employer that the individual has completed the training program within five business days of its completion.  The employer shall retain a copy of the certification for the duration of the individual's employment [, and shall forward a copy of the certification to the Department of Education] .  A board of education shall forward a copy of the certification to the Department of Education.  A contractor providing pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education shall forward a copy of the certification to the board of education to which the contractor is providing services, and the board shall then forward the certification to the Department of Education.

(P.L.2015,(cf: c.123, s.2)        4.  (New section)  As used in sections 5 through 6 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

P.L.2015, c.123, s.2)        4.  (New section)  As used in sections 5 through 6 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

     “Potential life-threatening emergency” means a situation in which a prudent person could reasonably believe that immediate intervention is necessary to protect the life of a student with disabilities1[disabilities] a disability1 being transported on a school bus, or to protect the lives of other students on the school bus, from a possible medical or behavioral emergency, or a possible immediate threat or actual occurrence of a fatal injury, impairment to bodily functions, or dysfunction of a bodily organ or part.

     “School bus” means the same as that term is defined in R.S.39:1- 1.       “School1[“School bus personnel” means a school bus driver, school bus aide, and any other individual who works, and is otherwise responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus.bus.]1        5.  (New section)  a.  1[School bus personnel] A school bus driver and a school bus aide1 shall be required to call the 911 emergency telephone service for assistance in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency on the school bus.  1[School bus personnel] A school bus driver and a school bus aide1 shall report that call to the department, in accordance with policies and procedures established by regulation pursuant to section 7 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).  A board of education, or a school bus contractor providing pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education, as applicable, that employs 1[school bus personnel] school bus drivers or school bus aides1, as well as the department, shall maintain a record of the calls made pursuant to this section and in accordance with the policies and procedures established by regulation pursuant to section 7 of P.L.    , c.    (C.   ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

       5. b.  (New section)  a.  School bus personnel shall be required to call the 911 emergency telephone service for assistance in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency on the school bus.  School bus personnel shall report that call to the department, in accordance with policies and procedures established by regulation pursuant to section of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).  A board of education, or a school bus contractor providing pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education, as applicable, that employs school bus personnel, as well as the department, shall maintainensure athat recordappropriate oftraining theis callsprovided made pursuant to this1[school sectionbus andpersonnel] inschool accordancebus withdrivers the policies and proceduresschool establishedbus byaides1, regulation pursuant to sectioneffectuate 7 of P.L.    , c.    (C.   ) (pending before the Legislaturepurposes asof thissubsection bill).a.

    of b. this Asection, boardwhich oftraining education,shall orinclude athe schoolsafety buseducation contractorprogram providingrequired pupilpursuant transportationto servicessection under1 contractof withP.L.2018, ac.160 board(C.18A:39-19.1a) ofand education,the astraining applicable,program shalldeveloped ensurepursuant thatto appropriatesection training1 isof providedP.L.2015, toc.123 (C.18A:39-19.2).  A board of education or school bus personnel,contractor that fails to effectuatecomply with the purposesprovisions of this subsection a.shall be subject to the applicable penalties enumerated in N.J.S.18A:39-20.

of this section, which training shall include the safety education program required pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2018, c.160 (C.18A:39-19.1a) and the training program developed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.123 (C.18A:39-19.2).  A board of education or school bus contractor that fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be subject to the applicable penalties enumerated in N.J.S.18A:39-20.         6.  (New section)  a.  The parent or guardian of a student who believes that a school1[school bus personnel membermember] school bus driver or a school bus aide1 violated the provisions of section 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), may file a complaint with the department, in accordance with procedures established by regulation pursuant to section 7 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).  The department shall investigate all complaints filed pursuant to this section in order to determine if a school1[school bus personnel membermember] school bus driver or a school bus aide1 violated the provisions of section 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

     b.  1(1)1  If the department finds 1, after notice and opportunity for a hearing in accordance with procedures set forth in State Board of Education regulations,1 that a school1[school bus personnel member violatesviolates] school bus driver or a school bus aide violated1 the provisions of section 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the school1[school bus personnel membermember] school bus driver or school bus aide1 shall be liable to a civil penalty of $5,0001[$5,000] $2,5001 for the first offense, $10,0001[$10,000] $5,0001 for the second offense, and $25,0001[$25,000] $10,0001 for the third and each subsequent offense, to be sued for and collected in a summary proceeding by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

     c. 1(2)  TheA departmentschool shallbus maintaindriver aand record of all instances in which a school bus personnelaide memberaccused isof foundviolating to have violated the provisions of section 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). bill)  shall     be 7. entitled (Newto section)representation Thethroughout Commissionerthe course of Education,any pursuantinvestigation toconducted, theor “Administrativehearing Procedureheld, Act,”pursuant P.L.1968,to c.410the (C.52:14B-1provisions etof seq.),this shallsection.  adoptRepresentation rulesutilized andpursuant regulations necessary to effectuatethis thesection provisionsshall ofinclude sectionsrepresentation 4by througha 6union ofrepresentative P.L.   or ,legal c.   counsel (C.       provided )by (pendinga beforeunion. the Legislature as this bill).

     (3)  Whenever a hearing is held pursuant to the provisions of this section, the burden of proof shall be on the department, and it shall be an affirmative defense to any claim under this section that the school bus driver or school bus aide accused of violating the provisions of section 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) acted reasonably and in good faith based upon the totality of the circumstances.1      c.  1A school bus driver or a school bus aide found to have violated the provisions of section 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) due to failure by an employing board of education or school bus contractor to administer the safety education program required pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2018, c.160 (C.18A:39-19.1a) or the training program developed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.123 (C.18A:39-19.2) shall not be subject to the loss of employment.

     d.1  The department shall maintain a record of all instances in which a school bus personnel member is found to have violated the provisions of section 5 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).         7.  (New section) The 1[Commissioner] State Board1 of Education, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of sections 4 through 6 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

     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,bus 1or as a school bus aide1, without first complying with the provisions of this chapter, and any person violating, or failing to comply with such1[such] any1 provisions shall be subject to a fine of:

     The1[The fines enumerated in this section shall also apply to a board of education or contractor approving or assigning a school bus aide or any other school bus personnel member subject to the provisions of sections 4 through 6 of P.L.    , c.     (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), without first ensuring that the school bus aide or other school bus personnel member is properly administered the safety education program required pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2018, c.160 (C.18A:39-19.1a) and that the training program developed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.123 (C.18A:39-19.2) is administered to the school bus aide or other school bus personnel member in accordance with section 2 of P.L.2015, c.123 (C.18A:39-19.3).(C.18A:39-19.3).]1      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.

     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.

P.L.1999, c.5, s.5)        12.  (New section)  As used in sections 13 through 15 of P.L.    , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), “students with disabilities with special transportation requirements” means students who are included in the variable P2 of subsection a.

       15.  (New section)  The Commissioner1[Commissioner] State Board1 of Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, shall promulgate, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations concerning:

the installation and use of video cameras, global positioning systems, and two-way communications equipment as required pursuant to section 13 of  P.L.    ,   c.    (C.       (C.        ) (pending ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) on school buses that transport students with disabilities with special transportation requirements;

    STATEMENT        The bill requires school bus drivers, school bus aides, and any other individual who works, and is otherwise responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus to call the 911 emergency telephone service for assistance in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency on the school bus.  A school bus personnel member is required to report the call to the Department of Education.  Under the bill, a board of education, or a school bus contractor providing pupil transportation services under contract with a board of education, that employs a school bus personnel member, as well as the department, is to maintain a record of the calls.       A board of education, or a school bus contractor, as applicable, is required to ensure that certain training related to school bus safety and interacting with students with disabilities are provided to each school bus personnel member who works on a school bus.  Under current law, these training programs are required to be administered to school bus drivers and school bus aides.  The bill expands these programs to cover all other school bus personnel members who work, and are responsible for the safety of students, on a school bus.  A board of education or school bus contractor that does not properly administer these training programs is to be subject to applicable penalties established under current law.  Current law requires an employer to administer a safety education program, including a program that provides training on defensive driving techniques and railroad crossing procedures, to certain school bus personnel twice per calendar year.

The bill requires that an employer is to also provide the training on interacting with students with disabilities to certain school bus personnel twice per calendar year following the initial administration of the program as outlined in the bill.       The bill provides that the parent or guardian of a student who believes that a school bus personnel member did not properly call the 911 emergency telephone service in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency may file a complaint with the Department of Education.  A school bus personnel member who is found by the office to have violated the provisions concerning 911 emergency notification and follow-up reporting requirements is to be liable for certain civil penalties.       The bill also requires a school bus that transports one or more students with disabilities with special transportation requirements to be equipped with:  (1) a video camera on the interior of the school bus to monitor student safety while the students are being transported;

(2) a global positioning system that provides information about the location and speed of each school bus in real time;