S 3621 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Prohibits institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions from using applications for admission that inquire about applicant's criminal history; establishes "Universal College Application Development Task Force" to develop standard application for admission.

New Jersey's S 3621 bars colleges and degree-granting institutions from asking about applicants' criminal history in admission applications, except for serious crimes like homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, human trafficking, or certain violent offenses. It creates a 24-member task force to develop a standard college application that eliminates criminal history questions, enabling students to apply to multiple institutions with one form. After admission, colleges may still consider criminal history for counseling services or decisions about campus activities (like housing), but cannot deny admission solely based on it. Law schools are exempt from these requirements.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Sep 19, 2024 Last action Sep 19, 2024
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Sep 19, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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Party
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P
Photo of Joe Cryan
Joe Cryan
DDemocratic
NJ
20