This bill protects working parents and legal guardians of school-aged children (Kindergarten through 12th grade) during school closures caused by state or public health emergencies. It prohibits employers from requiring these employees to work in person if their job can be done remotely, unless the employer proves remote work would cause an undue hardship to business operations. The law includes a rebuttable presumption that remote work is feasible if an employee has already worked remotely for two consecutive pay periods, and employers cannot penalize staff for requesting or using remote work. Violations carry escalating fines: $1,000 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create a confidential registry tracking high school student-athletes who suffer concussions or head injuries during sports or cheerleading programs. Coaches must immediately report such injuries to school athletic directors, who then submit weekly data to the registry - including injury type, sport, specific incident details, and recovery time - without revealing student identities. The registry aims to collect injury patterns and trends to develop evidence-based prevention protocols for schools. It directly affects all public and nonpublic high schools participating in New Jersey's interscholastic sports, intramural programs, and cheerleading.
This bill changes eligibility rules for New Jersey's Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) grants and campus programs. It clarifies that students who already earned an associate degree, college credits, or completed a dual-degree program in high school remain eligible for EOF grants and campus-based programs if they meet all other requirements (like residency, financial need, and full-time enrollment). The bill removes a potential barrier that previously might have excluded these students from participating. It does not change existing financial need or residency requirements but ensures prior college experience does not automatically disqualify applicants.
This bill establishes a two-year Mental Health Awareness Pilot Program within New Jersey's Department of Education, directly affecting middle and high school students in participating school districts. School districts must apply with detailed data on student enrollment, absenteeism, academic performance, socioeconomic status, and current mental health staffing to be selected. The Commissioner will choose six districts - representing all regions and urban/suburban/rural settings - to implement innovative mental health awareness initiatives and teach students coping skills for stress management. After two years, the Commissioner must report to the Governor and Legislature on the program's implementation and whether it should continue or expand.
This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey public schools to provide assistive technology (like text-to-speech software and digital tools) to elementary and middle school students with dyslexia or related reading/writing challenges. It directly affects students identified with dyslexia who do not require formal special education classification, helping them access grade-level materials and complete assignments more effectively. The program will provide grants to seven selected school districts (chosen across urban, suburban, rural areas and different county sizes) to cover the cost of technology, related services, and teacher training. Districts must apply with student data and plans showing how the tools will improve academic outcomes, with the Commissioner of Education overseeing implementation.
This bill (A 1929) requires New Jersey to create a program paying high school equivalency exam fees for low-income adults. It directly affects individuals with household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines, who seek a state-issued high school diploma. The State Board of Education must establish the program within six months, including income verification documentation, and limit fee coverage to one exam per person. The program will be funded using 5% of revenues from the existing Workforce Development Partnership Fund, as amended in Section 9 of P.L.1992, c.43.
This bill creates the EMT Workforce Development Partnership within New Jersey's Department of Health, providing free training to high school students (16+), college students, and community residents to become certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs). It requires participants to work as paid or volunteer EMTs for at least two years in their local community after certification to avoid repaying training costs. The partnership involves collaboration between the Department of Health, schools, hospitals, and certified training agencies, with $1.5 million appropriated from the state general fund to cover implementation. Participants who complete the training and pass the certification exam receive temporary EMT certification, while those who don't fulfill the service requirement must reimburse the training agency. The bill aims to expand local EMT workforce access through accessible, no-cost training pathways.
"Madalyn's Law" requires New Jersey school districts to include age-appropriate toxic shock syndrome education in health classes for grades 4-12 starting in the 2020-2021 school year. It also mandates that owners of public restrooms with two or more toilets in commercial buildings (like shopping centers) install clear signage about toxic shock syndrome symptoms and risks near tampon dispensers or in visible locations. Violations carry $100 penalties per offense. The law excludes elementary school restrooms (grades below 5) and directs the Department of Health to create public awareness materials and signage standards.
This bill allows New Jersey high school students aged 16 or older who are in grade 12, maintain good academic standing, and have principal approval to enroll in career-focused courses at county colleges, provided space is available. It removes the requirement for students to hold a State-endorsed diploma or have completed the GED to take these courses toward career certifications. County colleges must permit such enrollment but are not required to waive existing course prerequisites or application rules. The policy aims to expand access to early career training for eligible high school students.
This bill creates a new pathway for certain students to qualify for in-state tuition at New Jersey's four-year public colleges, bypassing the current requirement of attending NJ high school for three years. It directly affects students who earned an associate's degree from a county college in their home county (where they were treated as a county resident for tuition) but did not meet the standard high school attendance criteria. Key provisions require these students to provide proof of their associate's degree and, for those without lawful immigration status, file an affidavit confirming they've applied for or will apply for immigration status legalization. The bill does not change existing in-state tuition rules for students meeting the standard high school requirements. The legislation is currently pending in the Assembly Higher Education Committee and would take effect for the first full academic year after enactment.
