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Assembly panel advances bill allowing school districts to require bus-monitoring systems
Summary
The Assembly Education Committee moved A-1432 forward after proponents said the technology would deter drivers who illegally pass school buses; the measure is permissive and would allow — but not require — districts to contract for bus-monitoring systems.
The Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday advanced A-1432, a bill that would allow school districts and municipalities to contract with private vendors or require contractors to install, operate and maintain school-bus monitoring systems designed to enforce school-bus stopping laws.
Supporters told the committee the change is intended to improve student safety by reducing incidents in which motorists ignore stop arms. "This bill is very important to the safety of our children," Assemblyman Stanley said, arguing the systems would help address drivers "just blowing past the stop sign when the children are getting on the bus." Committee staff said committee amendments remove a rulemaking requirement for the commissioner of education and the superintendent of state police.
Multiple education and safety organizations filed slips in favor, including bus-patrol groups, the Garden State Coalition of Schools, the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association, the State PBA, school boards and principals’ organizations; the New Jersey chapter of the National Motorist Association filed opposition but did not testify. The chair emphasized the measure is permissive rather than mandatory: districts would be able to require systems on contracted routes but would not be forced to do so.
The committee approved a motion to amend and release the bill. The chair announced the bill "moves on."
