This week, in addition to taking the first public testimony on the Governor’s state budget proposal, committees from both Houses held committee hearings at the Statehouse this week. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, as well as the Senate Education Committee met to consider bills related to public education in the state, including bus safety for students with disabilities, a bill that aims to address pension tiers by providing members the same benefits as those enrolled before July 1, 2007, and a bill that would limit the use or disclosure of information collected as part of the FAFSA waiver process. Read on to find out more about what happened under the Golden Dome this week.
S-2078/ A-1675 would extend the length of time a member of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) can maintain their membership and member tier in the TPAF following a period of discontinuance, both prior to and following the effective date of the bill. Under current law, membership in the TPAF ceases if an individual discontinues service for more than two years. This bill extends the period of discontinuance to 10 years.
The bill also extends the length of time a member who left service for certain qualifying reasons may return to service and includes among the qualifying reasons those who voluntarily left service with 10 or more years of service credit. Under current law, membership in the TPAF may continue if the member returns to service within a period of 10 years from the date of discontinuance from service. This bill extends the period of discontinuance to 15 years so long as the teacher has not withdrawn their accumulated member’s contributions from the retirement system, provided that the administration of this provision is consistent with IRS rules governing minimum required distributions from a qualified retirement plan.
Under the bill, a person who returns to service with an employer within the time period of 10 or 15 years will be eligible for enrollment in the fund based on the eligibility requirements for enrollment for the member’s tier at the time of the member’s termination of service prior to the return.
The bill is retroactive and requires that a person who returned to service with an employer prior to the effective date of the bill within the time period of 10 or 15 years will be enrolled in the fund and will be placed in the member’s tier at the time of the member’s termination of service prior to the return. There will be no additional contributions imposed on the member or the member’s employer.
This bill requires the Division of Pensions and Benefits to make such adjustments and transfers as will be necessary to ensure the enrollment of the member in the fund and placement in the same tier pursuant to this bill.
This bill has already been passed by the full General Assembly (69-6-0). On March 17th, the Senate Budget and Appropriations committee advanced this bill. It is now on 2nd reading in the Senate. NJPSA Supports S-2078/ A-1675.
Requires portable anti-choking devices be placed in schools
S-908 would require public and nonpublic schools to have portable anti-choking devices in cafeterias, nurse’s offices, and other key locations. These FDA-registered devices must be easily accessible and marked with identifying signs. Schools must develop policies for their use and provide training in airway management for nurses and staff. The Department of Education will ensure annual training and reimburse schools for implementation costs.
This bill was passed unanimously by the Senate Education Committee on March 17th. The bill has been second referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. NJPSA sought amendments to the bill.
S-1778 would allow taxpayers to contribute a portion of their New Jersey gross income tax refund towards State aid for public schools.
Taxpayers may indicate on their gross income tax return that a portion of their tax refund be deposited into the “School Aid Contribution Fund.” The Legislature will use the funds collected to supplement State school aid in addition to, and not in place of, the annual appropriation for State school aid. Any funds collected may not be used to supplant the amount of State funds appropriated to State school aid from the prior fiscal year.
S-1778 was heard for “discussion only”, meaning a vote was not taken on this day, but it will be voted on at the next meeting of the Senate Education Committee. NJPSA Supports this bill.
S-3118 provides that a regional school district that is spending at least 10 percent below adequacy and in which each constituent school district is located in a municipality in which the equalized total tax rate is at least 10 percent greater than the Statewide average equalized total tax rate would not be subject to a reduction in State aid.
S-3118 was passed out of the Education Committee by a razor thin margin of (3-2). NJPSA is Neutral on this bill.
S-3141 establishes the Public Education Innovation Fund (“fund”) in the Department of Education and provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses for making qualified education donations to the fund.
Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education would award grants from the fund to low-performing public schools in this State for the implementation of educational innovation programs. The commissioner would award grants to qualifying schools through a competitive application process, subject to the availability of monies in the fund. The bill defines “educational innovation program” as any program that implements innovative strategies to mitigate or eliminate one or more barriers to academic achievement at a low-performing public school. Under the bill, a “low-performing public school” is defined as a school located in New Jersey, under collegiate grade, that is operated by a school district or a charter school established pursuant to current law, and that meets the following criteria:
(1) among all students in that school to whom a State assessment was administered, the sum of the percent of students scoring in the not yet meeting expectations and partially meeting expectations categories in both the language arts and mathematics subject areas of the State assessments exceeded 40 percent in each of the prior two school years; or
(2) among all students in that school to whom a State assessment was administered, the sum of the percent of students scoring in the not yet meeting expectations and partially meeting expectations categories in either the language arts or mathematics subject areas of the State assessment exceeded 65 percent in each of the prior two school years.
The bill provides that business entities may apply to the commissioner for corporation business tax or gross income tax credits for the amount of qualified education donations made to the fund in any year. For a business entity that is a corporation business taxpayer, the bill caps the amount of the credit at 75 percent of the business’s tax liability otherwise due for the privilege period. For a business entity that is a gross income taxpayer, the bill caps the amount of the credit at $10,000 of the business’s qualified education donations made during the taxable year. The bill limits the total amount of tax credits approved under the bill at $5,000,000 for each State fiscal year.
S-3141 was heard for “discussion only”, meaning a vote was not taken on this day, but it will be voted on at the next meeting of the Senate Education Committee.
S-3222 would mandate cybersecurity education for high school students (grades 9-12) based on curriculum guidelines developed by the Commissioner of Education in coordination with cybersecurity and homeland security agencies. It also requires the development of cybersecurity model curricula for four-year colleges and county colleges in New Jersey to support degree programs in the field. Additionally, the bill establishes two student loan redemption programs: one for graduates employed in cybersecurity occupations and another for teachers of cybersecurity-related subjects, each offering up to $4,000 in loan repayment over four years. This bill was passed unanimously by the Senate Education Committee on March 17th. The bill has been second referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. NJPSA testified with concerns about this bill, and is seeking an amendment to the implementation timeline.
S-3457 would establish a 22-member commission to assess and improve out-of-school time programs in New Jersey. Members include state officials, legislators, and representatives from various education and child advocacy organizations. The commission’s duties include reviewing policies, adopting statewide standards, evaluating funding, and examining program development across different districts. It must submit an interim report within one year and a final report within two years, after which it will dissolve 30 days later.
This bill was passed unanimously by the Senate Education Committee on March 17th. The bill has been second referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. NJPSA Supports this bill.
S-3858 mandates that school bus personnel responsible for students with disabilities call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies and report the call to the Office of Special Education. Schools and contractors must keep records of such calls. The bill expands mandatory school bus safety and disability interaction training to all personnel. Parents can file complaints if 911 is not called when necessary, and violations may result in civil penalties. Additionally, school buses transporting students with disabilities must have interior video cameras, GPS tracking, and two-way communication devices, with data retained for 180 days. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission must inspect these required systems during routine school bus inspections. This bill was passed unanimously by the Senate Education Committee on March 17th. The bill has been second referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. NJPSA supports this bill, but testified with concerns that the legislation as written does not contain an appropriation.
Establishes School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program; appropriates $500,000
An NJPSA/FEA initiated bill, S-3933 would establish a three-year School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program to strengthen school leadership by mentoring first-year supervisors. The Commissioner of Education will develop guidelines, partner with a nonprofit for administration, and oversee the program. Novice supervisors apply annually, with selected participants meeting mentors for at least 15 hours and engaging in professional learning. The program aims for geographic and demographic diversity. A final report on effectiveness and future recommendations will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature. The bill allocates $500,000 for implementation.
This bill was passed unanimously by the Senate Education Committee on March 17th. The bill has been second referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. NJPSA Supports this association-initiated legislation and provided testimony.
S-3982 would require certain information to be provided to a parent or guardian at least two business days prior to the annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting. The committee substitute also requires the Department of Education to establish the IEP Improvement Working Group.
NJPSA’s Government Relations team worked with the sponsor and other education stakeholder groups on amendments, which were adopted as a Senate Committee Substitute. The committee substitute requires public schools, not less than two business days prior to the annual team meeting concerning the review of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a special education student, to provide the student’s parent or guardian with a written statement of items to be discussed at the meeting. This statement is to include: (1) the student’s current levels of academic and functional performance; (2) a list of the names of any required IEP team members who are seeking excusal from participation in the IEP team meeting, accompanied by any excused IEP team member’s input with respect to the programs and services for which the member is responsible. This list is to be in addition to any requests for consent for excusal that are included with the notice of the IEP meeting date and participants that is provided in accordance with federal and State law and regulation; and (3) an invitation for the parent or guardian to provide input and feedback as to the programs and services proposed in the student’s IEP.
Under the committee substitute, the department is to establish the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Improvement Working Group. The purpose of the working group is to provide recommendations to the department regarding methods to improve the development and implementation of IEPs and to ensure parental involvement in the process. The working group is to consist of members appointed by the Commissioner of Education, including teachers, school administrators, members of the educational community, and parents as detailed in the committee substitute.
The working group is to examine, research, and make recommendations on:
(1) practices utilized in other states that are different from practices in New Jersey for the development and implementation of IEPs and ensuring parental involvement in the process;
(2) the differences in practices used in different school districts within the State for the development and implementation of IEPs;
(3) research or other academic evidence of best practices with respect to development of IEPs;
(4) federal or State law restrictions on changes to the IEP process; and
(5) potential legislative, regulatory, funding, or other improvements to the State’s IEP process.
The working group is to issue a report no later than four months after the working group organizes.
Limits use or disclosure of certain education records
S-4162 would restrict the disclosure of certain education records related to financial aid waivers for the graduating classes of 2025–2027. Waiver forms may only collect minimal personal information and cannot be used or shared without informed consent, in compliance with federal and state privacy laws. The Department of Education and schools must prominently display this restriction on waiver forms. Previously submitted waivers remain valid but are also subject to the bill’s privacy protections.
This bill was unanimously favorably reported by the Senate Education Committee, and is now on Second Reading in the Senate. NJPSA Supports this bill.
Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS
S-4223 would permit members of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), or long term disability insurance recipients who are disabled and receiving TPAF or PERS disability insurance benefits, to be entitled to health care benefits under the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) and State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) in the same manner as it is provided to retirees of the TPAF and PERS retirement systems who receive health insurance under the SEHBP and SHBP, except that these health care benefits are to be free and not require employee contributions.
This bill was passed unanimously by the Senate Education Committee on March 17th. The bill has been second referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. NJPSA Supports this bill.
Sneak Peek at Next Week
On Monday, March 24th, the Senate is scheduled to have a voting session at which the following education related bills will be considered by the full Senate.
-S2376 – Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years.
-S3447 – Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force.
-S3982 – Requires certain information be provided to parent at least two business days prior to annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting; establishes IEP Improvement Working Group in DOE.
-S4162 – Limits use or disclosure of certain education records.
-A1675 – Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination.
-S2078 – Extends membership in TPAF to 10 years after discontinuance of service and to 15 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination.
On Tuesday, March 25th, the Assembly Budget Committee will meet in the State House Annex, Committee Room 11 to take public testimony at 9:30am (more info and to observe): https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/live-proceedings/2025-03-25-09:30:00/ABUB/Hearing
On Wednesday, March 26th, The Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee will meet at 10am, at the New Jersey Institute of Technology Campus Center Atrium, 150 Bleeker Street, Newark, NJ 07102 (more info and to observe): https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/live-proceedings/2025-03-26-10:00:00/SBAB/Hearing
Both the state and federal governments are busy, and policy news is changing rapidly, sometimes daily. Your NJPSA Government Relations team is there on the ground to represent your interests, and to represent our incredible school leaders. If you have any questions, would like more information, or would like to get involved, please reach out to your NJPSA GR team: Director Debbie Bradley and/or Assistant Director Jennie Lamon. Thank you for all that you are, and all that you do – particularly in today’s very challenging times.