06/24/2026 | Press release | Archived content
Senator Anthony M. Bucco's (R-Morris, Passaic) bill to strengthen school bus safety requirements and emergency response protocols for students with disabilities advanced in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
"Parents deserve peace of mind knowing their children are safe while traveling to and from school but unfortunately, we have seen heartbreaking incidents in New Jersey where too many families have suffered because warning signs were missed or not handled correctly," said Sen. Bucco. "This legislation makes it clear that emergencies on school buses must be treated seriously and that the adults responsible for students are prepared to respond when something goes wrong."
The bill, S-2456, would require school bus drivers and aides to call 911 in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency on a school bus and report the incident to the Department of Education.
The bill also expands safety and disability interaction training requirements for student safety and requires certain buses to be equipped with interior cameras, real-time GPS tracking, and two-way communication equipment.
You can read the full text of the bill here.