New Jersey S 2316: Requires video camera on certain school buses with crossing control arms.

Bill Text

SENATE, No. 2316

STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MARCH 21, 2022

Sponsored by:
Senator NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

SYNOPSIS
Requires video camera on certain school buses with crossing control arms.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.

S2316 CRUZ-PEREZ
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AN ACT concerning school buses and supplementing 1
P.L.1965, c.119 (C.39:3B-1 et seq.). 2
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BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State 4
of New Jersey: 5
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1. a. Every new or used school bus, purchased or otherwise 7
acquired on or after the first day of the 37th month following the 8
date of enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the 9
Legislature as this bill), shall be equipped with a video camera to 10
assist in the enforcement of section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-11
128.1). The video cameras shall be of a design and type approved 12
by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle 13
Commission, and shall be installed on or adjacent to the vehicle’s 14
crossing control arm, equipped pursuant to P.L.1996, c.96 15
(C.39:3B-1.1 et seq.). 16
Following the date of enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending 17
before the Legislature as this bill), any school bus equipped with a 18
video camera shall be used to transport elementary school students 19
whenever practicable. 20
b. Thirty-seven months after the date of enactment of P.L. , c. 21
(C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), each agency, 22
board of education, nonpublic school, and school bus contractor 23
shall submit to the Commissioner of Education a list of vehicles, as 24
defined in section 1 of P.L.1996, c.96 (C.39:3B-1.1), used to 25
transport students and indicate whether each vehicle is equipped 26
with a video camera on or adjacent to the crossing control arm. 27
c. For the purposes of this section, “school bus” means any 28
vehicle equipped with a crossing control arm, pursuant to P.L.1996, 29
c.96 (C.39:3B-1.1 et seq.). 30
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2. This act shall take effect immediately. 32
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STATEMENT 35
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This bill requires video cameras to be installed on certain school 37
buses. 38
The bill provides that beginning in the 37th month following 39
enactment, every new or used school bus purchased or otherwise 40
acquired is required to be equipped with a video camera on or 41
adjacent to the crossing control arm (“stop” sign arm). The bill 42
provides that immediately following enactment, any school bus 43
equipped with a video camera shall be used to transport elementary 44
school students whenever practicable. 45
The purpose of the video cameras is to assist in the enforcement 46
of section 1 of P.L.1942, c.192 (C.39:4-128.1), which prohibits 47
vehicles from passing a school bus while passengers are picked up 48

S2316 CRUZ-PEREZ
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or discharged. The bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New 1
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to approve the design and type 2
of video camera to be used. 3
The bill also provides that within 37 months of enactment, each 4
agency, board of education, nonpublic school, and school bus 5
contractor is required to submit to the Commissioner of Education a 6
list of vehicles that are used to transport students and indicate 7
whether each vehicle is equipped with a video camera on or 8
adjacent to the crossing control arm. 9