This bill creates the Hazardous School Route Grant Program within the New Jersey Department of Education to improve pedestrian safety for students walking to school. It allocates $15 million in funding to help school districts address dangerous walking paths where courtesy bus services are not available. To qualify, districts must demonstrate financial need and have previously adopted policies identifying hazardous routes, while municipalities must handle permits and long-term maintenance. The program allows grants of up to $1 million per district for projects like capital improvements or temporary transportation, with applications prioritized based on the severity of risks and the number of students affected.
This bill creates a $10 million grant program within the Department of Community Affairs to fund the installation of suicide prevention measures on high-risk structures like bridges and parking garages. To receive funding, eligible entities must submit applications that include cost estimates and details about suicide incidents at the specific location, with priority given to areas experiencing high suicide rates. The program supports evidence-based deterrents such as nets and barriers, but also allows for alternative safety measures like surveillance systems or emergency phones if physical barriers are not feasible. Additionally, the bill mandates a comprehensive study within one year to identify effective deterrents and methods for reducing suicide attempts at various structures.
This bill prohibits transportation network companies, such as ride-sharing apps, from charging the standard $0.50 surcharge on trips designated as paratransit service. It directly affects riders who use these apps for specialized transportation needs, including those with disabilities, seniors, and Medicaid beneficiaries, by exempting their prearranged rides from the fee. The legislation also clarifies that companies are not personally liable for these specific paratransit rides. By removing this financial barrier, the bill ensures that essential accessible transportation remains affordable for eligible users.
This bill creates a $10 million grant program within the Department of Community Affairs to fund the installation of suicide deterrents on high-risk structures like bridges and parking garages. To receive funding, eligible entities must submit applications detailing the specific deterrents they plan to install, such as nets or barriers, and provide data on past suicide attempts at the site. The program prioritizes projects in areas with high suicide rates and requires recipients to use grant money for evidence-based solutions or secondary prevention methods like surveillance and emergency phones if primary deterrents are not feasible. Additionally, the bill mandates a study within one year to identify effective deterrent types and their costs, with the results published online.
This bill creates a Rest Stop Tourism Display Program within New Jersey's Division of Travel and Tourism to promote local attractions at highway rest stops. The program allows destination marketing organizations and businesses to propose temporary displays, which may include informational exhibits, free materials, and items for sale, with their duration set jointly by the division and transportation authorities. To ensure oversight, the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority must submit a list of planned and existing displays to relevant state agencies every six months.
This New Jersey bill prohibits drivers from operating vehicles with intentionally obstructed license plates and bans the possession or transfer of merchandise designed to hide or alter license plates. The legislation specifically targets items like retractable plate holders, reflective sprays, blackout covers, and plate-flipping devices, while exempting newspapers that publish classified ads for such goods. Violators face fines up to $500 for a first offense and $750 for subsequent offenses, along with penalty points on their driving record for third or later violations.
This bill creates a 12-member task force to study how safe students are when schools open and close each day. The group will examine bus loading procedures, traffic congestion around schools, and whether enough police or other staff are present during arrival and departure times. Members include representatives from various education organizations, government officials, and parents, who will work without pay to review current practices and research. The task force must organize within 60 days and submit a final report with its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. Once the report is submitted, the task force will end its work.
This bill requires the New Jersey Commissioner of Education to create specific criteria for identifying dangerous walking routes for students and provides state funding to districts that offer busing for students on those routes. The proposed criteria include measurable factors such as high traffic volume, lack of sidewalks, dangerous crossings, and environmental or social risks, with stricter standards for younger children and urban areas. Once a route is officially designated as hazardous, school districts must submit joint certifications to the state, and eligible students will receive state aid to cover the cost of courtesy busing services.
This bill allows individuals in New Jersey diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, communication disorders, or acquired brain injuries to voluntarily add these conditions to their driver's licenses or non-driver ID cards. To qualify, individuals must submit specific medical documentation, and the Motor Vehicle Commission will work with health officials to define these requirements. Additionally, the bill creates a secure statewide registry where people can share their diagnosis and emergency contact details with law enforcement to aid communication during traffic stops. The legislation also mandates that the state develop and distribute guidance to police officers on how to effectively interact with individuals who have these disabilities.
This bill requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation to review and prioritize the creation of park-and-ride lots near large warehouse facilities, defined as buildings of at least 100,000 square feet used for storing goods. The legislation aims to reduce traffic congestion on local roads by ensuring these parking areas connect to public transit or carpooling options for workers. If a review finds no existing solutions to ease commuter traffic, the Commissioner of Transportation must establish new facilities. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Commissioner submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature every two years detailing the number and locations of available and newly created park-and-ride spots.
