Bill Text: NJ S4085 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended

New Jersey Senate Bill 4085 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-12-21 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [S4085 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-S4085-Amended.html

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 4085

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Sponsored by:

Senator M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Stanfield

SYNOPSIS

Requires private bus operators to provide notice and hold public meetings for certain service changes.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As amended by the Senate on December 11, 2023.

An Act concerning requirements for certain private bus operators and supplementing Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. Each private entity that operates motorbus regular route service, as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-3), or portions or functions thereof, ¹[and that also participates in the New Jersey Transit Corporation's bus lease program, is a recipient of State funds, regardless of whether those funds are received through the corporation or through another instrumentality of the State or operates such service pursuant to a contract with the corporation]¹ shall:

(1) provide at least four months written notice to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and the New Jersey Transit Corporation prior to the substantial curtailment, as that term is defined in section 8 of P.L.1979, c.150 (C.27:25-8), of such service;

(2) provide at least three months written notice to the service's customers prior to the substantial curtailment of such service; and

(3) hold at least one public meeting in the affected area, as close as possible to the highest trafficked stop on the route, within 15 days after providing notice to the service's customers pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection. Prior to holding the public meeting, the private entity shall provide written notice of the public meeting to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, the New Jersey Transit Corporation, as well as the State legislators representing any legislative district, the mayor and governing body of any municipality, and the board of county commissioners of any county that will be affected by the substantial curtailment of such service.

b. A private entity that is determined to be in violation of subsection a. of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, in addition to any penalties that may be available pursuant to law.

c. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section and shall take any action necessary to ensure that private entities are in compliance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

d. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the New Jersey Transit Corporation or any other instrumentality of the State ¹that provides funds or compensation to a private entity¹ from conditioning participation in any program, receipt of funds, or entry

into a contractual agreement on ¹adherence to the¹ notice and public meeting requirements ¹[that are more onerous than the requirements]¹ provided in this section.