NJASA Legislative Update
May 7, 2021

If you have any questions regarding the legislative information below, please email me at mschulz@njasa.net.
The following legislative activity took place on April 19, 2021:

S-3609 Bucco/Stack
Establishes Digital Divide Solutions Grant Program in DOE to assist public schools in purchase of connected devices and Internet access for students during periods of remote instruction.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
 
S-3616 Thompson
Provides supplemental appropriation from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE to provide additional State aid to certain school districts.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
 
S-3630 Corrado
Requires portable anti-choking devices be placed in schools.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
 
S-3639 Turner
Raises age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years old.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
 
S-3648 Schepisi
Requires school bus drivers to retake certain knowledge and skills tests.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee
 
S-3654 Sweeney/Rice
Establishes Amistad Curriculum Award Program for teachers who perform exemplary service providing instruction on slavery and African-American history; appropriates $5,000.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
 
S-3655 Schepisi
Limits certain unused sick leave pay and vacation leave carry-forward for school and local employees; limits sick leave use by new public employees before retirement.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee
 
S-3657 Oroho/Cunningham
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-3685 Ruiz/Codey
Permits school teacher who is retired from TPAF to return to employment during public health emergency and state of emergency for COVID-19 pandemic, for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee
The following legislative activity took place on April 26, 2021:

S-3684 Ruiz
Requires DOE to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
 
S-3685 Ruiz
Permits school teacher who is retired from TPAF to return to employment during public health emergency and state of emergency for COVID-19 pandemic, for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee
 
S-3697 Gopal
Establishes New Jersey Commission on School Funding in DOE.
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
The following legislative activity took place on May 5, 2021:

A-3149 Murphy/Greenwald/Freiman
Increases penalty for hazing; clarifies that prohibited conduct includes causing, coercing, or forcing consumption of alcohol or drugs.
Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
 
A-5537 Burzichelli
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.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
A-5544 Wirths/Mukherji
Provides that certain school districts will receive State school aid in amounts equal to aid provided in 2020-2021 school year.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
A-5546 Dancer
Allows choice districts to increase enrollment in interdistrict public school choice program to offset certain reductions in State school aid.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
A-5560 Bergen
Limits requirements for school districts to include instructions on diversity and inclusion as part of implementation of New Jersey Learning Standards to grades 9 through 12.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
S-5562 Vainieri Huttle/Jasey/Benson
Extends eligibility for NJ STARS Program to students academically ranked in top third of class.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee
 
A-5564 Downey
Provides paid leave of absence to public school employees for certain circumstances related to COVID-19.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
A-5569 Moen, Jr./Benson
Authorizes county vocational school districts to establish electric vehicle certification programs.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

A-5574 Jasey
Establishes summer transition pilot program for rising kindergarten students who meet certain criteria.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
A-5576 Jasey/Lampitt
Permits school teacher who is retired from TPAF to return to employment during public health emergency and state of emergency for COVID-19 pandemic, for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
 
A-5577 Benson/Reynolds-Jackson/Dunn
Establishes "Remote Instruction and School Curriculum Adjustment Study Commission" to review New Jersey Student Learning Standards and make recommendations to ensure that students utilizing remote instruction can meet curriculum standards.
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
 
S84 Bateman/Greenstein
"Timothy J. Piazza's Law"; expands scope of hazing activities and increases penalties for hazing resulting in injury; requires institutions of higher education, and public and nonpublic high schools and middle schools to adopt anti-hazing policies.
Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

Governor Murphy signed the following bill:
 
A-4461 Lampitt/Jasey/Quijano/Ruiz/Turner
Requires State to enter into contract and coordinate with certain cooperative purchasing systems for procurement of COVID-19 related goods and services by school districts.
Approved P.L.2021, c.77.