NJASA Legislative Activity Update

May 23, 2022

The following legislative activity took place on May 12, 2022:

A-2067 Lampitt/Jasey/Caputo

Requires Department of Education to annually report use of federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

A-3196 Caputo/lampitt/Jasey/Jaffer

Requires State Board of Education to administer New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment as field test for class of 2023.

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

A-3565 Kean/Thomson

Authorizes certain individuals to drive Type S school buses.

Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading

A-3943 Quijano

Requires teachers to biennially complete two hours of professional development related to cultural competence.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-3945 Quijano

Establishes "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program;" appropriates $50,000.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-3948 Quijano

Prohibits cloud computing service providers from disclosing data collected from public, private, or charter schools.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-3954 Quijano

Requires school districts to include instruction on significance of Juneteenth Independence Day as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-3979 Speight/McKnight

Requires school districts to maintain restrooms in good working order.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-3988 Dancer

"The Smarter Lunchroom Act;" promotes healthy food choices in school cafeterias.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-3989 Spearman

Removes basic skills testing requirements for certain teacher certification for three years.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-3990 Stanley

Extends service life of school buses by one year.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee

S-2483 Corrado/Bucco

Establishes "Parents Bill of Rights Act"; prohibits school district from interfering with fundamental right of parent or guardian to engage in and direct student's education; permits opt-out of school district curriculum.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2494 Gill

Makes supplemental appropriation of up to $20 million from General Fund to DOE to support school facility cleaning and sanitization.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2518 Singer

Permits employers to prohibit use of cannabis by certain employees.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee

S-2524 Schepisi/Oroho

Directs State Board of Education to rescind New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education and directs boards of education to establish Parental Advisory Committees and adopt standards for health instruction.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2548 Corrado

Provides temporary extension of service life of school buses for one year; authorizes chief administrator to provide additional extensions.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee

S-2561 Corrado

Requires school psychologists and school counselors to complete mental health first aid training.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2563 Gopal

Makes certain changes to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educator grant program.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2580 Cryan

Limits terms of appointment of school superintendents.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2589 Turner

Shortens certain school board members' terms when annual school election is moved from November to April; requires approval of both school board and municipal governing body in order to move school election from November to April.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2593 Diegnan, Jr.

Extends service life of school buses by one year.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee

S-2594 Diegnan, Jr.

Requires State Board of Education to permit candidates awaiting teacher certification to submit affidavit to hiring school district affirming certification requirements have been met.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2609 Thompson

Establishes School Funding Commission to study school funding formula and prepare report that will serve as basis of new formula.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2610 Thompson

Permits transfer of school district capital reserve account funds to general fund for current general fund expenses in certain circumstances.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2611 Thompson

Provides that certain school districts will receive State school aid in amounts equal to aid provided in 2020-2021 school year.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2614 Thompson

Allows choice districts to increase enrollment in interdistrict public school choice program to offset certain reductions in State school aid.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

The following legislative activity took place on May 16, 2022:

A-4003 Sampson, IV

Extends limitations on expulsions and suspensions for young students to students in grade three.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-4005 Sampson, IV

Requires school district to notify registered apprenticeship programs of upcoming college or career fair.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-4011 Haider/ McKnight

Directs Commissioner of Education to establish three-year pilot program to increase reading levels of certain students; appropriates $1 million.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-4021 Piperno/ Eulner

Requires Commissioner of Education to prepare report on learning loss of students with developmental disabilities during COVID-19 public health emergency.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-4030 Dancer

Makes supplemental appropriation of $80 million from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE for Stabilization Aid.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-4033 Coughlin

Extends deadline for completion of school district's annual audit.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-4043 Sawyer

Requires schools to purchase locally grown produce when available; establishes process for farmers to voluntarily donate surplus produce to schools for use in NJ Farm to School Program.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee

A-4045 Flynn

Removes requirement that all boards of education be members of NJSBA.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

S-2632 Thompson

Establishes Stabilization Aid for certain school districts experiencing reductions in State school aid or other budgetary imbalances; establishes Education Rescue Grants for certain school districts experiencing reductions in teaching staff.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2634 Durr

Establishes grant program in DOE to promote responsible gun ownership; appropriates $1 million.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2648 Durr

Prohibits school districts from incorporating instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in grades kindergarten through six; requires consent from parents or guardians for students in grades seven through 12 for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2652 Durr

Eliminates requirements for public school students to take health and physical education courses.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2657 Sarlo

Extends deadline for completion of school district's annual audit.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2658 Lagana

Requires local boards of education to employ certain number of school psychologists.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2659 Lagana

Establishes Train the Trainer Program for Student Wellbeing in DOE; appropriates $1 million.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2661 Codey

Establishes New Jersey Educator Scholarship Program.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

S-2672 Beach

Allows qualified school to be called "New Jersey Farm Fresh School."

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee

The following legislative activity took place on May 19, 2022:

A-1282 Stanley/Haider/Timberlake

Requires DEP to develop and implement electric school bus program; provides for $15 million in first year and $15 million annually in subsequent two years to DEP, subject to availability, to provide grants.

Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading

A-2368 Coughlin/Lampitt/Jasey

Requires schools to provide free school breakfasts and lunches to students from working class, middle-income families; designated as "Working Class Families' Anti-Hunger Act."

Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading

A-3694 Moen, Jr.

Establishes "Purple Star Schools Program" in DOE to recognize schools which emphasize importance of assisting children of military families.

Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading

A-3968 Carter

"Transparency in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Curriculum Act"; requires public schools to solicit parental input on health and physical education curriculum; sets standards for curriculum delivery in all subject areas.

Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading