A quiet week in Trenton as the NJ State Legislature recesses for summer. The NJ State Board of Education held their monthly meeting. NJPSA continues to monitor a number of education-related measures that are currently under consideration by Governor Murphy.
NJ State Board of Education
The NJ State Board of Education met on Wednesday, July 14th. At their meeting, the Board held an election for State Board Officers. Kathy Goldenberg, of Moorestown (Burlington County), was reelected as President of the State Board. Andrew J. Mulvihill of Andover (Sussex County) was reelected as Vice-President of the Board. We were also introduced for the first time to the new permanent Student Representative to the Board, Ms. Maura Baker. The Board took action on one new Appointment, Kathleen Ehling to be the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Student Services.
The NJDOE proposed to readopt N.J.A.C. 6A:32, School District Operations, with amendments and new rules. The chapter’s rules are designed to assist school districts in governing the daily operation of schools and to provide guidance in the creation of school policies, procedures, and services to meet staffing and operational needs. N.J.A.C. 6A:32 expires on January 16, 2022. The proposal level document includes three sections – comments and responses, summary of the proposed rulemaking and text of the chapter’s rules and proposed amendments and may be reviewed by clicking here.
The NJDOE also proposed to readopt with amendments N.J.A.C. 6A:17, Education for Homeless Children and Students in State Facilities. The chapter sets forth rules to ensure homeless children and students placed in State facilities are provided a thorough and efficient education. The chapter is scheduled to expire on September 10, 2021. The proposal level document, including two sections (summary of the proposed rulemaking and text of the chapter’s rules and proposed amendments) may be viewed by clicking here. The Department presented the proposed amendments to the State Board at the July meeting. View the Department’s presentation here.
NJ Legislature
The NJ Legislature did not meet this week. The Governor did not sign any new educated-related legislation this week. There is a list of bills on the Governor’s desk that we continue to monitor. If and when these measures become law, we will alert NJPSA members right away. The list of bills currently under consideration by Governor Murphy follows.
On the Governor’s Desk:
A-4433/S-2715 Creates grant program to encourage school districts to partner with institutions of higher education in training school-based mental health services providers. On Monday, June 21, 2021, this bill was passed by the Senate by a vote of (40-0) and the General Assembly by a vote of (72-0-0). This bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, the bill will become law.
A-4544/S-3150 Permits school nurse who is retired from TPAF to return to employment for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF. On Monday, June 21, 2021, this bill was passed by the Senate by a vote of (40-0) and the General Assembly by a vote of (72-0-0). This bill has now passed both houses and will go to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, the bill will become law.
S-3948/A-5896 Authorizes supplemental State aid to school districts receiving certain federal Impact Aid; makes appropriation. On Monday, June 21, 2021, this bill was unanimously passed by the full Senate (40-0). The same day, the bill was passed by the General Assembly (68-2-2). The bill has now passed both houses and will go to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, the bill will become law.
S-225/A-679 Provides that student-athlete who sustains concussion must return to regular school activities prior to return to competition; requires school districts to implement six-step return-to-competition process. On Monday, June 21st, this bill was unanimously passed by the General Assembly (72-0-0), and the Senate (38-0). The bill has now passed both houses and will go to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, the bill will become law.
S-2826/A-4594 Directs DOE to establish five-year pilot program for issuance of limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing and limited certificate of eligibility for certain teacher candidates. On June 21, 2021, this bill passed the General Assembly by a vote of (65-5-1). Having previously passed the Senate on June 3rd, the bill has now passed both houses and will go to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, the bill will become law.
S-2834/A-5312 Mandates training on culturally responsive teaching for all candidates for teaching certification. On June 21st, this bill was passed by the General Assembly by a vote of (58-11-3). Having previously passed the Senate on February 19th, this bill has now been passed by both houses and will go to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, the bill will become law.
A-5882/S-3943 (Vitale / Madden) – Establishes State supplement for federal summer food service program meals. On June 24th, 2021, this bill was both passed by the Assembly (72-3-0) and the Senate (40-0). This bill has now been passed by both houses and will go to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, the bill will become law.
A-5883/S-3944 (Ruiz / Turner) – Establishes State supplement for “breakfast after the bell” meals. On June 24th,this bill was both passed by the Assembly (71-4-0) and the Senate (40-0). This bill has now been passed by both houses and will go to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, the bill will become law.
A-4435 / S-2717 (Verrelli / Greenwald / Speight / Beach / Corrado) – Requires DCF to give priority to certain school districts with student mental health counseling centers in awarding grants under School Based Youth Services Program. On June 24, this bill was passed by the Senate (39-1). Having previously passed the General Assembly on March 1, 2021 by a vote of (68-0-2), this bill will go to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, it will become law.
S-84 / A-3149 (Bateman / Singleton / Greenstein / Murphy / Greenwald / Freiman) – Requires institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic high schools and middle schools to adopt anti-hazing policies; expands activities encompassing criminal hazing and upgrades penalties for engaging in these activities. This bill has passed both houses. On June 15th, it was passed by the Senate (40-0). This week, the Assembly passed the bill on June 24th by a vote of (75-0-0). The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration and, if signed, will become law.
S-108 / A-169 (Gill / Turner / Caputo / Wirths) – Concerns speech rights of student journalists at public schools and public institutions of higher education. This bill has been passed by both houses. On March 5, 2020, it passed the Senate unanimously(40-0). This week, the bill cleared the General Assembly on June 24th by a vote of (74-0-0). The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration and, if signed, will become law.
S-969 / A-2687 (Ruiz / Turner / Mazzeo / Lampitt / Moen) – Establishes loan redemption program for teachers in certain fields to redeem loan amounts received under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students Loan Program through employment in certain low performing schools. This bill has passed both houses. On March 5th, the Senate passed it by a unanimous vote of (40-0). This week, the Assembly passed it on June 24th (73-1-0). The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration and, if signed, will become law.
S-2160 / A-5701 (Sweeney / Oroho / Singer / Carter / Lampitt / Jasey) – Creates special education unit within the Office of Administrative Law; requires annual report. This bill has passed both houses. On June 3rd, it was passed unanimously by the Senate (38-0). This week, the General Assembly took up the measure and on June 24th passed it with another unanimous vote (75-0-0). The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration and, if signed, will become law.
S-3881 / A-5834 (Sarlo / Coughlin / Jasey) – Extends deadline for completion and filing of annual audit report of school district for 2020-2021 school year; establishes deadline for submission of Audit Summary for 2020-2021 school year. This measure passed both houses this week, with a vote in the Senate on June 21st (40-0) and a vote in the Assembly three days later on June 24th (74-0-0). The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration and, if signed, will become law.
S-3253 / A-2619 (Singleton / Ruiz / Murphy / Speight / Mukherji) – Establishes alternate route to expedite certification of teachers at early college high school programs. This bill has been passed by both houses. On June 3rd, it passed by the Senate (37-0). Then, on Thursday of this week, the Assembly also unanimously approved the measure (74-0-0). The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration and, if signed, will become law.
A-5817/S-3852 (Tully / Swain / Benson / Lagana / Diegnan) – Revises violation and fines for approving or assigning unauthorized individuals as school bus drivers. On June 21st, this bill was passed by the Assembly (72-0-0). On June 30th, the Senate also unanimously approved the measure (38-0) and sent it to the Governor. If Governor Murphy signs the bill, it will become law.
A-5818 /S-3849 (Tully / Swain / Benson / Lagana / Diegnan) – Provides for debarment of school bus contractors for certain violations; requires certain information in pupil transportation contract bid. On June 24th, the Assembly passed this bill (75-0-0). On June 30th, the Senate also unanimously approved this measure (38-0) and sent it to the Governor. If signed, it will become law.
S-84/S-2093 (Bateman / Singleton / Greenstein / Kean) – Requires institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic high schools and middle schools to adopt anti-hazing policies; expands activities encompassing criminal hazing and upgrades penalties for engaging in these activities. On June 30th, this bill was passed by the Senate. It has now passed both Houses and has been sent to the Governor for his consideration. If Governor Murphy signs it, this bill will become law.
S-3488 (Sweeney / Gopal / O’Scanlon) – Modifies certain procedures pertaining to school district regionalization; establishes grant program for cost reimbursement of conducting regionalization feasibility studies; and provides financial incentives for regionalization. On June 30th the Senate passed this bill This bill has now been passed by both houses and has been sent to Governor Murphy for his consideration. If the Governor signs this bill, it will become law.
As always, if you have any questions about these bills, or any others, your NJPSA Government Relations team is always available! Please do not hesitate to contact Director Debra Bradley dbradley@njpsa.org or Assistant Director Jennie Lamon jlamon@njpsa.org at any time.