NJ S1112

Mandates school buses transporting students with special needs to be equipped with interior video cameras, real-time GPS tracking showing location and speed, and two-way communication equipment such as cellular phones.

Exempts video footage and GPS data collected from these systems from public records laws, preventing classification as government records under New Jersey's open records statutes.

Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Motor Vehicle Commission, to develop regulations on installation, use, data retention periods, and footage retention timeframes.

Takes effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment, allowing time for administrative implementation.

Inspired by an incident where a non-verbal special needs student named Emma was traumatized when her school bus driver became lost for several hours and she could not communicate or understand where the bus was going.