NJASA Legislative Update
January 27, 2020

If you have any questions regarding the legislative information below, please email me at  mschulz@njasa.net.
The following Legislative Activity took place on January 7, 2021:

A-5211 Wimberly/Quijano
Updates and clarifies recent legislation passed by both Houses of the Legislature addressing cannabis legalization, and marijuana and hashish decriminalization.
Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading
 
A-5214 Verrelli
Establishes Task Force for the Development of Universal Child Care.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee
 
AJR-203 Vainieri Huttle/Benson
Designates May 23 each year as "Renewable Energy Day" in NJ.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee
 
AR-211 Verrelli/Benson/Dunn
Urges high schools to include information concerning apprenticeship programs in events and resources provided to help students develop postsecondary plans.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
S-559 Codey/Cryan
Requires parent or guardian to notify child care centers if child will be absent; requires child care centers to notify parent or guardian in event of unexcused child absence.
Approved P.L.2020, c.152.
 
S-1028 Ruiz/Turner/Singleton/Quijano/McKnight/Timberlake
Allocates Amistad Commission in but not of DOE; requires commission to elect chairperson and appoint executive director; requires public schools to include instruction on accomplishments and contributions of African Americans to American society.
Approved P.L.2020, c.153.
 
S-3320 Sweeney
Updates and clarifies recent legislation passed by both Houses of the Legislature addressing cannabis legalization, and marijuana and hashish decriminalization.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee; Reported from Senate Committee, 2nd Reading
The following legislative activity took place on January 11, 2021:

A-5226 Dunn
Allows municipality to use school bus video footage to ticket driver for illegally passing school bus.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee
 
A-5233 Vainieri Huttle/Conaway, Jr.
Requires school districts to include instruction on public health as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
A-5234 Vainieri Huttle/Conaway, Jr.
Requires Commissioner of Education to establish public awareness campaign on student use of Internet and social media.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
A-5235 Vainieri Huttle
Requires school districts to close schools on days of general and primary elections.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
AJR-204 Jasey/Benson/Reynolds-Jackson
Designates April of each year as "Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Month" in New Jersey.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee

S-3349 Pennacchio/Sweeney/Kean, Jr.
Provides three-year phase-in of full funding of extraordinary special education State aid.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
 
S-2832 Ruiz/Beach
Allows student enrolled in institution of higher education who has completed 30 semester-hour credits to serve as substitute teacher; extends time period substitute teacher may serve during public health emergency.
The following legislative activity took place on January 21, 2021:

S-854 Turner/Kean
"Laura Wooten's Law"; Requires civics instruction in middle school; authorizes New Jersey Center for Civic Education to provide curricula, professional development and technical assistance for middle and high school civics.
Reported from Senate Committee, 2nd Reading
The following legislative activity took place on January 25, 2021:

A-4008 Karabinchak/Murphy/Space
Provides secondary classroom experience credit towards meeting requirements of classroom training portion of registered apprenticeship.
Reported out of Assembly Comm. with amendments, 2nd Reading
 
A-1354 Benson/Lopez
Establishes certain additional examination and special learner's permit requirements.
Reported out of committee, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
 
A-4264 Taliaferro/Lampitt/Vainieri Huttle
Establishes Clayton Model Pilot Program in DOE to provide school-based social emotional learning to students in grades kindergarten through five at certain public schools.
Reported out of committee with committee amendments, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
 
A-5126 McKnight/Lampitt/Vainieri Huttle
Requires Commissioner of Education to prepare learning loss report and report on public school operations during COVID-19 public health emergency.
Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Assembly
 
A-5147 Lampitt/Freiman/Speight
Establishes Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program in DOE to assist public schools in establishing or expanding certain educational programs to address learning loss in students.
Reported out of committee, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
 
A-4783 Quijano/Lampitt/Jasey
Grants reciprocity to teachers with certain out-of-state certificates.
Recommitted to Assembly Education Committee; Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Assembly
 
A-4856 Lampitt/Benson/Caputo
Requires Internet websites and web services of school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools to be accessible to persons with disabilities.
Reported out of committee with committee amendments, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
 
S-2486 Sweeney
Establishes Clayton Model Pilot Program in DOE to provide school-based social emotional learning to students in grades kindergarten through five at certain public schools.
Reported out of committee with committee amendments, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
 
S-3214 Ruiz/Turner
Requires Commissioner of Education to prepare learning loss report and report on public school operations during COVID-19 public health emergency.
Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Assembly
 
S-2486 Sweeney
Establishes Clayton Model Pilot Program in DOE to provide school-based social emotional learning to students in grades kindergarten through five at certain public schools.
Reported out of Asm. Comm. with amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee