] is old law to be omitted. LBD01409-01-5A. 233 2 1 any recommendations necessary to ensure pedestrian safety and the safety 2 of students; 3 b. examining the possibility of requiring a state department or office 4 to conduct a biannual review of all aspects of school bus safety and to 5 issue recommendations for additional action or oversight, as appropri- 6 ate; 7 c. developing a plan to phase in any school bus safety measures recom- 8 mended by the task force through retrofitting and prospective vehicle 9 purchases, and identify the potential application of vehicle sensor 10 technology to improve school bus safety; 11 d. identifying best practices for the designation of school bus stops; 12 e. the current safety status of students who walk to and from school 13 and identify strategies that support safe pedestrian behavior by 14 students between their homes and schools, including as they walk to and 15 from bus stops and board and exit buses; 16 f. identifying safety protocols to be followed by school bus drivers 17 and school bus aides, including safeguards to ensure that protocols are 18 followed when a substitute driver or school bus aide is assigned to a 19 school bus; 20 g. developing recommendations to curb illegal passing of school buses; 21 and 22 h. determining if there is a need for additional public education 23 programs that promote school bus safety. 24 4. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in 25 the same manner as the original appointments were made. The members of 26 the task force shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed 27 for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. 28 5. The task force shall organize as soon as is practical upon the 29 appointment of a majority of its members. The chair of the task force 30 shall be designated by a simple majority vote of all members of the task 31 force. 32 6. The department shall provide staff and related support services to 33 the task force. The task force shall also be entitled to call upon the 34 services of any state, county, or municipal department, board, commis- 35 sion or agency, as may be available to it for these purposes, and to 36 incur such traveling and other miscellaneous expenses as it may deem 37 necessary for the proper execution of its duties and as may be within 38 the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for 39 these purposes. The task force may meet and hold hearings at such places 40 as it shall designate. 41 7. The task force shall create a final report regarding all findings 42 and recommendations to be delivered no later than eighteen months after 43 the effective date of this section, to the governor, the temporary pres- 44 ident of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the 45 senate education committee, the chair of the assembly education commit- 46 tee, the chair of the senate transportation committee and the chair of 47 the assembly transportation committee. 48 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 49 deemed repealed twenty-four months after it shall have become a law.