Bill > A5701

Introduced Session

This bill regulates alternative student transportation providers and permits these providers to transport certain students in certain vehicles. Under the bill, an educational agency may enter into a contract with an alternative student transportation provider listed on the registry established under the bill to provide transportation services to and from school and related school activities in an alternative school vehicle for: homeless children; children who have been placed in the custody of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families; students with disabilities who are being served in out-of-district placements; and a student with disabilities being served in a school or placement within the district. The bill requires the educational agency to provide written notice, as specified in the bill, to the parent or guardian of any student who may be transported pursuant to this bill. The bill defines "educational agency" to mean a board of education, educational services commission, county special services school district, jointure commission, or any other established State or local agency providing pupil transportation services. The bill establishes a registration and review process for alternative student transportation providers, qualifications and requirements for drivers of alternative student transportation providers, and imposes inspection and insurance requirements on alternative school vehicles. Registration and Review Process Currently, an entity seeking to become a certified school bus contractor is required to complete a process established by the Department of Education. This bill models this process for alternative student transportation providers by requiring among other items, the provider to obtain a business registration certificate, certify that the provider's drivers and alternative school vehicles meet the requirements of the bill, and attend certain mandatory trainings offered by the department. Under the bill, the alternative student transportation provider is required to contact an executive county superintendent to assist with the annual registration process established under the bill. The bill requires the department to establish a central, searchable registry of alternative student transportation providers, which registry is to be made publicly available on the department's Internet website. The registry is to contain certain information, as outlined in the bill. The bill also requires the department to complete a school transportation advisory review for alternative student transportation providers every three years. The department is required to group the alternative student transportation providers by active, pending, suspended, or expired registration status. The department is required to promptly notify the alternative student transportation provider and any contracted educational agency of the provider's registration status. The bill provides that if an alternative school transportation provider's registration status is suspended or expired, the alternative student transportation provider will be removed from the registry. The bill permits the department to conduct interim reviews if conditions exist that may pose a threat to the safety or wellbeing of students. The bill further permits the department to conduct random audits of alternative student transportation providers. Driver Qualifications and Routine Checks To transport students, the bill requires that a driver of an alternative student transportation provider: (1) is at least 21 years of age; (2) possesses a New Jersey driver's license for a minimum of three years; (3) completes a physical examination; (4) completes a criminal history record check, sex offender registry check, and child abuse record information check; (5) undergoes checks for alcohol and drug-related motor vehicle violations; and (6) completes certain department trainings. The bill specifies certain convictions that will disqualify a driver of an alternative student transportation provider from providing transportation services. The bill does not require a driver to possess a commercial driver license or to be a designated school employee, State employee, or parent of a student being transported in certain smaller vehicles as required under other provisions of current law. Under the bill, qualified drivers are required to attest daily to the alternative student transportation provider that the driver has not received any citations that would disqualify the driver pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The drivers are also subject to certain checks as specified in the bill, and unannounced medical testing for alcohol, narcotics, and habit-producing drugs. The alternative student transportation provider is to maintain a record of each driver's qualifications and the results of the checks required under the bill. Alternative School Vehicles Under the bill, an alternative school vehicle is defined as a private vehicle or school-owned vehicle that is operated by a driver of an alternative student transportation provider and has a gross vehicle weight rating of 3,000 pounds or more, originally designed by the manufacturer with a maximum seating capacity of nine passengers or less, excluding the driver. In addition to the vehicle standards, registration, and inspection requirements imposed on other school vehicles that transport students with a capacity of nine or less, the alternative school vehicles are to be inspected twice per year and display a current vehicle inspection sticker authorizing the vehicle for school use. However, the bill provides that alternative school vehicles do not need to be equipped with a special license plate as required under current law for other school vehicles. Additionally, the bill requires each alternative school vehicle to be equipped with an interior video camera, a global positioning system, and two-way communications equipment. This equipment can only be activated after an educational agency receives written consent for the use of these items from the parent or guardian of any student who will be transported by the alternative student transportation provider. Under the bill, an alternative student transportation provider is required to maintain automobile liability insurance for bodily injury and property damages in a minimum amount of $1.5 million combined single limit per occurrence for all alternative school vehicles used to transport students under the bill. School Personnel Transporting Certain Students Under current law, a board of education, governing body of a nonpublic school, or State agency is permitted to designate school personnel to transport school children to and from school in a vehicle with a capacity of eight or less provided the school personnel meet various requirements. This bill clarifies that the school personnel may utilize a private or school-owned vehicle with a capacity of eight or less to transport school children to and from school or school related activities.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 10/19/2026)

Bill Topics

Official Document