A measure introduced in the New Jersey Senate would require criminal background checks for certain school employees and prohibit interference with school bus monitoring devices.
The “School Bus Safety and Child Protection Act,” sponsored by Senators Beach (NJ 6) and Greenstein (NJ 14) would require any school bus aide in the public and charter school systems, and any school that receives public funds for school buses, to have a background check. Prospective aides and school bus drivers would need to submit to a background check before starting employment, and every five years thereafter. The bill permits nonpublic schools to conduct similar background checks to those performed by public schools, charter schools, and schools that receive governmental funding for school buses.
Any employee who commits a disqualifying offense would be suspended until the offense is adjudicated. A conviction or other adverse adjudication would result in termination of the employee’s service.
The bill also requires each school district that has video cameras on school buses to appoint an employee to randomly view such recorded images during each school year.
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