Bus driver required to be on the bus when pupil present—N.J.S.A. 18A:39-27. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, no school pupil shall be allowed on board a school bus unless the bus driver or other employee of the school board or school bus contractor is also on board the bus. b. The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall not apply when a bus driver leaves the bus to assist in the boarding or exiting of a disabled pupil or in the case of an emergency. Inspections of school bus for pupils by driver at end of transportation route-N.J.S.A. 18A:39-28 A school bus driver shall visually inspect the school bus to which he is assigned at the end of the transportation route to determine that no pupil has been left on the bus. For the purpose of this act, “school bus” means every motor vehicle operated by, or under contract with, a public or governmental agency, or religious or other charitable organization or corporation, or privately operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school for secular or religious education, which complies with the regulations of the Department of Education affecting school buses, including “School Vehicle Type I” and “School Vehicle Type II” as defined pursuant to R.S.39:1-1.” Violation, suspension, revocation of school bus endorsement- N.J.S.A. 18A:39-29 In the event that, after notice and opportunity to be heard, a school bus driver is found to have left a pupil on the school bus at the end of his route, his school bus endorsement shall be: Suspended for six months, for a first offense; or Permanently revoked, for a second offense. Permanent revocation for gross negligence N.J.S.A. 18A:39-30 In the event that a pupil, who was left on a bus by a school bus driver at the end of the route, is harmed as a result of foreseeable danger and the drive is found, after notice and opportunity to be heard, to have acted with gross negligence, his school bus endorsement shall be permanently revoked. Cell Phone for Bus Driver and Bus Aide As noted in the specifications, the Board of Education requires as mandatory equipment, an operable two way radio system. The Board also requests that all drivers and bus aides be issued a working cell phone as a back up to the two way radio requirement. School Bus Driver Annual Certification—Statement of Assurance—Submit with Bid All bidders are to submit with their response, a completed and signed Statement of Assurance Certification for the Annual School Bus Driver Certification form. The bidder certifies compliance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:39-17 through 20 governing criminal history checks and shall annually submit required documents to the Executive County Superintendent, on or before August 31 or upon employment for newly hired drivers. Driver Information Documentation—CDL License with P and S Endorsement All contractors shall submit upon award of a route(s), the name of the school bus driver assigned to each route and provide a copy of the current driver’s license for the driver. If the driver is different from the a.m. run, and the p.m. run, the name of the driver and a copy of the current driver’s license is also required. Failure to provide information, may result in penalties being assessed for noncompliance.
