New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 20 - ENFORCEMENT SERVICE
Subchapter 50B - BODY STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL BUSES
Section 13:20-50B.8 - Construction

(a) The school bus shall be constructed of prime commercial quality steel or other metal or material with strength at least equivalent to all-steel as certified by the body manufacturer.

(b) The construction shall provide a dustproof and watertight unit and the exterior shall be designed to prevent to the greatest extent possible the hitching of rides.

(c) The school bus body joints, other than the body panel joints created when body components are attached to components furnished by the chassis manufacturer, shall conform to FMVSS No. 221 ( 49 CFR § 571.221 ), incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented.

(d) A school bus may be equipped with steel side panel skirts between the front and rear axles of the school bus. The side panel skirts shall extend to the bottommost elevation of any chassis component located between the front and the rear axles of the school bus. A school bus may be equipped with steel side panel skirts behind the rear axles of the school bus. On Type D school buses, the bottom of the side panel skirts located behind the rear axle shall taper upward to the bottommost part of the rear bumper.

(e) School buses shall not be equipped with stanchions, interior luggage racks, roof luggage racks, luggage access ladders, or any other equipment that may obstruct the passenger compartment.