Bill Text: NJ S1114 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Extends useful life of certain school buses from 12 to 16 years.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-04 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S1114 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S1114-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Extends useful life of certain school buses from 12 to 16 years.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain school buses, amending P.L.1983, c.206, and supplementing chapter 3B of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1983, c.206 (C.39:3B-5.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. School buses, under the jurisdiction of the public schools and manufactured prior to April 1, 1977, other than those of the transit type whose gross vehicle weight (G.V.W.) exceeds 25,000 pounds, shall not be used for pupil transportation purposes beyond the end of the tenth year from the date of manufacture, as noted on the vehicle registration, or at the end of the school year in which that date falls, whichever is later.
b. School buses manufactured on or after April 1, 1977, other than those of the transit type whose gross vehicle weight (G.V.W.) exceeds 25,000 pounds, shall not be used for pupil transportation purposes beyond the end of the twelfth year from the date of manufacture, as noted on the vehicle registration, or at the end of the school year in which that date falls, whichever is later; except that the chief administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission may grant an annual extension pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill) that permits continued use of a school bus for pupil transportation purposes. No extension shall be granted to continue use of a school bus for pupil transportation purposes beyond the end of the sixteenth year from the date of manufacture, as noted on the vehicle registration, or at the end of the school year in which that date falls, whichever is later.
(cf: P.L.1983, c.206, s.1)
2. (New section) As
authorized pursuant to subsection b. of section 1 of P.L.1983, c.206
(C.39:3B-5.1), the chief administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission may
grant an annual extension that permits continued use of a school bus that is
greater than 12 years of age but less than 16 years of age. A school bus is
eligible to receive an annual extension up to the sixteenth year if it is
determined to be safe to provide pupil transportation services for an
additional year. The owner or operator of a school bus may apply for an
extension by submitting the school bus for semi-annual in-terminal inspections
to be conducted by inspection teams of the Motor Vehicle Commission. If the
owner or operator does not have adequate terminal facilities to allow for a
proper and thorough in-
terminal inspection, the chief administrator shall designate an in-lieu-of
terminal site and direct the owner or operator to present the bus to that site
for inspection. The inspector shall have the authority to require any repairs
or reconditioning which the inspector determines to be necessary for the
continued safe use of the bus. In addition, the steering, braking and exhaust
systems shall be thoroughly reconditioned or replaced, as necessary, prior to
any continued use for pupil transportation purposes. The school bus shall be
immediately removed from service if it fails an inspection or if the required
repairs or reconditioning are not completed.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill will extend the life of certain school buses from 12 to 16 years. Under current law, public school districts are required to retire certain school buses which have reached 12 years of age even though, in some cases, these buses are otherwise safe and suitable for pupil transportation purposes. This bill allows the owner or operator of a school bus that is more than 12 years old to annually apply for a one-year extension of use from the Motor Vehicle Commission, though no extension may be granted that continues use for pupil transportation purposes beyond the sixteenth year. One-year extensions will be granted only to those buses that are deemed safe and suitable following semi-annual inspections. Following these inspections, the owner or operator of the school bus must complete any repairs or reconditioning suggested by the inspector. In addition, the steering, braking, and exhaust systems of these older school buses must be thoroughly reconditioned or replaced in order to qualify for extended use. Most states do not have a mandatory retirement age for their school buses.
