1. As used in this section, “regional district” means a regional school district composed of only two constituent municipalities or a consolidated school district composed of only two municipalities.

Notwithstanding any provision of N.J.S. 18A:39-1 to the contrary, if a school district provides transportation to and from school to a school pupil who resides remote from school and attends a nonpublic school located within the State not more than 20 miles from the residence of the pupil, or in the case of a regional district provides transportation or an in-lieu-of-payment to such pupil, the school district or regional district shall provide transportation, when seats are available on existing routes, or an in-lieu-of payment to all nonpublic school pupils who reside within the municipality of that pupil or in the case of a regional district reside within the district, attend that school, and reside more than 20 miles from that school. The school district may require all nonpublic school pupils in the municipality or regional district to use the bus stops which serve the pupils whose residences are not more than 20 miles from the nonpublic school. Any cost incurred by a school district or a regional district in providing transportation or an in-lieu-of payment to a pupil who is eligible for the transportation or an in-lieu-of payment under the provisions of this section shall not exceed the maximum cost per pupil established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1981, c.57 (C. 18A:39-1a), and shall be paid by the State.

L.1999,c.350,s.1; amended 2000, c.103; 2001, c.324.