New Jersey Senate Republicans

06/30/2026 | Press release | Archived content

Bucco Bill Protecting Students with Disabilities While on School Buses Passes Senate

News Flash

Bucco Bill Protecting Students with Disabilities While on School Buses Passes Senate

Anthony M. Bucco Posted on June 30, 2026

Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-Morris, Passaic) to strengthen school bus safety requirements and emergency response protocols for students with disabilities unanimously passed the New Jersey Senate.

"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 school bus aides responsible for student safety to call 911 in the event of a potential life-threatening emergency on a school bus and report the incident to the State Department of Education.

The legislation expands safety and disability interaction training requirements for school bus drivers and school bus aides to include recognizing behaviors and other signs that may indicate a potential life-threatening emergency.

Additionally, certain school buses transporting students with disabilities would be required to be equipped with interior cameras, real-time GPS tracking, and two-way communication equipment.

The bill appropriates State funding through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to help school districts and school bus contractors purchase and install the required safety equipment.

Read the full text of the bill online.

New Jersey Senate Republicans published this content on June 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 21, 2026 at 15:48 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]