Senate committee advances Bucco bill expanding school bus safety for students with disabilities
TRENTON, N.J. — Bipartisan legislation sponsored by state Sen. Anthony Bucco aimed at strengthening school bus safety requirements and emergency response procedures for students with disabilities advanced in the Senate Education Committee.
The bill, S-2456, would require school bus drivers, aides and other personnel responsible for student safety to call 911 during potential life-threatening emergencies occurring on school buses and report the incidents to the New Jersey Department of Education.
“Parents deserve peace of mind knowing their children are safe while traveling to and from school,” Bucco, R-Morris and Passaic, said. “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 legislation also would expand safety and disability interaction training requirements to include all school bus personnel responsible for student safety.
Additionally, certain buses transporting students with disabilities would be required to have interior cameras, real-time GPS tracking and two-way communication equipment under the proposal.
“Too many families have suffered because warning signs were missed or emergencies were not handled the way they should have been,” Bucco said. “This legislation is about making sure school personnel are paying attention and ready to respond when a child needs help.”
The bill also appropriates state funding through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to help school districts and bus contractors purchase and install the required safety equipment.
An identical version of the legislation previously passed the state Senate in June 2025 before being reintroduced in the current legislative session.
