18A:39-1.8 Payment by parents for transportation of certain pupils.

1. Any board of education which transports pupils to and from school pursuant to N.J.S.18A:39-1 may provide, on a space-available basis, for the transportation of elementary school pupils who live less than two miles from school and secondary school pupils who live less than two and a half miles from school along an established school bus route, and may require that if the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the child elects to have the pupil transported, the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the child shall pay all or a part of the costs of that transportation. A board of education may also provide, on a space-available basis, for the transportation of elementary school pupils who live less than two miles and secondary school pupils who live less than two and a half miles from any not for profit nonpublic school which satisfies the maximum distance requirements set forth in N.J.S.18A:39-1 along an established school bus route, and may require that if the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the child elects to have the pupil transported, the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the child shall pay all or a part of the costs of that transportation. The costs of the transportation shall be paid at the time and in the manner determined by the board of education, provided that the costs shall be equitable for both public and nonpublic pupils.

A board of education shall notify the Department of Education when it elects to provide transportation for pupils under the provisions of this act.

L.2001,c.327,s.1.