S 3715 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes requirements for students engaging in certain bias-related conduct.

S 3715 requires New Jersey public school districts to mandate that students found responsible for bias incidents meet weekly with a State-certified school psychologist for at least nine months. This applies to students engaging in conduct motivated by protected characteristics (such as race, religion, or sexual orientation) that creates a hostile school environment, including verbal slurs, hate symbols, or biased graffiti. The bill replaces punitive measures with structured counseling to address underlying causes, emphasizing education and support over discipline. It directly affects students who commit bias incidents in K-12 schools, requiring districts to employ psychologists trained in implicit bias and cultural equity. The law aims to reduce repeat incidents by focusing on intervention, aligning with New Jersey’s goal of maintaining safe, nondiscriminatory learning environments.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 2, 2026 Last action Jun 1, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 3 edits

MINOR

The Senate Education Committee amended S3715 by broadening the category of professionals who must meet with students involved in bias incidents from specifically 'State-certified school psychologists' to the wider category of 'mental health care professionals.' A new definition was added specifying that mental health care professionals include those licensed under Title 45 and regulated by various state boards (medical, psychological, social work, marriage and family therapy, alcohol and drug counseling, professional counseling, and psychoanalysis). This change likely responds to practical concerns about the availability of school psychologists with the required training in implicit bias, racial equity, or cultural competence.

DEFINITION

A new definition for 'Mental health care professional' was added in Section 2, covering individuals licensed under Title 45 and regulated by the State Board of Medical Examiners, State Board of Psychological Examiners, State Board of Social Work Examiners, State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee, Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, or Certified Psychoanalysts Advisory Committee.

REQUIREMENT

Section 3(a) changed the requirement from students meeting with 'the district's State-certified school psychologist' to meeting with 'a mental health care professional employed by the district.' The employment obligation was also broadened from requiring 'one State-certified school psychologist' to 'at least one mental health care professional' with the same expertise and training requirements.

Section 3(c) changed the actor conducting meetings from 'a school psychologist shall' to 'a mental health care professional shall,' applying the same duties (providing educational resources, offering a supportive environment, and assessing for mental health conditions) to the broader category of professionals.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 1, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors