Bill > A543

Introduced Session

This bill requires school bus drivers to submit to biannual testing for drugs and alcohol. Under the bill, all drivers of buses or other vehicles used by a board of education or by a private or parochial school for the transportation of pupils to and from school will, in addition to any other medical exam or testing required by law, be required to submit to unannounced medical testing twice each school year for the presence of alcohol, narcotics, or habit-producing drugs within the scope of the "New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act," P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-1 et seq.). The employing board of education or contractor will determine the timing of the medical testing and will receive the results of the medical testing. The bill requires that a school bus driver be immediately ineligible to operate a school bus or other vehicle used for the transportation of pupils to and from school if:· the results of the driver's medical testing disqualifies the driver from continued service; or · the driver refuses to submit to the medical testing. The bill provides that a school bus driver cannot be terminated from employment on the basis of the results of the driver's medical testing without an opportunity to challenge the accuracy of the disqualifying testing report. The Commissioner of Education is directed to establish criteria for disqualifying a school bus driver from the continued operation of a school bus or other vehicle used for the transportation of pupils based on the results of medical testing. The commissioner is also directed to develop an appeal process to resolve any dispute raised by a school bus driver concerning a disqualification made pursuant to the bill's provisions. Finally, the bill requires the employing board of education or contractor, prior to the beginning of transportation of school pupils, to annually file evidence of the medical testing required pursuant to the bill's provisions with the executive county superintendent.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Bob Auth (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document