This bill prevents new employees of school board and county college insurance groups from joining New Jersey's state retirement system (PERS). It also ends retirement coverage for current employees in these groups with fewer than 10 years of service credit. Employees with 10 or more years may keep their retirement coverage if they continue working without interruption. The bill repeals prior laws that allowed certain employees on leave to purchase additional pension credit.
This bill requires all public and private school buildings in New Jersey to install carbon monoxide detectors meeting Underwriters Laboratories standard 2034, unless a hazard assessment determines no risk exists. The Commissioner of Community Affairs must create rules for detector placement and hazard evaluations, and school construction permits must include detector provisions. Local authorities may charge fees to cover inspection costs for compliance, but fees cannot exceed actual inspection expenses. The law amends existing fire safety and construction code regulations to implement these requirements.
This bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities (including proprietary institutions) to notify the state's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority when the federal government approves a student loan discharge under "borrower defense" rules. Specifically, institutions must inform the Authority within a reasonable timeframe if a student - especially a New Jersey resident during enrollment - is approved for federal student loan forgiveness due to institutional misconduct. The law does not change federal loan rules but adds a state reporting requirement to help track discharges affecting residents. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill provides supplemental funding from New Jersey's Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education to ensure certain school districts receive at least the same total state aid in the 2021-2022 school year as they did in 2017-2018. It directly affects five named districts (Old Bridge, Freehold, Manalapan-Englishtown, Millstone) plus any district with below-average property valuation per pupil or income per pupil compared to the state average. The key mechanism is a supplemental appropriation to offset potential aid reductions, targeting districts that historically received lower state support. Over 100 districts may qualify under the eligibility criteria, including examples like New Hanover and Roosevelt. The funding is contingent on the 2022 budget being enacted.
AJR 146 designates September 15 each year as "World Afro Day" in New Jersey to celebrate Afro hair and promote inclusivity. The resolution recognizes September 15 as the date marking a 2016 court case involving hair discrimination (Chastity Jones' job offer rescission) and aligns with New Jersey's existing CROWN Act (2019), which prohibits hair-based discrimination. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation urging schools and cultural institutions to observe the day with educational activities. This resolution directly affects all New Jersey residents by raising awareness about historical hair discrimination and supporting efforts to combat bias in schools and workplaces. It does not create new laws but designates a day for education and celebration.
This bill establishes strict timelines for the New Jersey Commissioner of Education to review and act on annual audits submitted by approved private schools serving students with disabilities (APSSDs). Specifically, the Commissioner must issue any review findings, adjustments, or penalties within seven years of an audit's submission date for audits submitted after the bill's effective date, or within seven years of submission or two years after the bill's effective date (whichever is later) for older audits. If the Commissioner misses these deadlines, the audit is automatically approved for all purposes. This addresses current delays - sometimes exceeding 20 years - that disrupt budgeting for APSSDs and sending school districts, ensuring timely accountability and fairness.
This bill establishes the New Jersey Veteran Grant Program, providing tuition assistance for veterans attending public colleges and universities in New Jersey. It directly affects veterans who completed at least one year of active military service (including National Guard or Reserves), hold an honorable discharge, reside in New Jersey, and apply for other available grants first. The program covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to 18 credits per semester after other aid is applied, with public institutions required to waive any remaining balance. To qualify, veterans must maintain good academic standing, not be in student loan default, and not receive ROTC scholarships, with grants renewable annually based on continued eligibility.
This bill establishes a $1.5 million grant program for New Jersey's four-year public colleges to create or expand wine and grape science education programs (covering grape growing, winemaking, and business operations). It directs the Secretary of Higher Education to select three institutions - one in each of the state's southern, central, and northern regions - to receive up to $500,000 each, requiring applicants to detail program plans, industry partnerships, and student capacity. The program allows students under 21 to enroll in academic coursework but prohibits participation in alcohol-related activities. The Secretary must submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature six months before the program concludes.
This New Jersey bill (A 3537) requires high school students to receive instruction on tuition assistance programs and student loan debt as part of their financial literacy graduation requirement, starting with the 2018-2019 ninth grade class. It mandates that students meet with a guidance counselor during 10th or 11th grade to discuss available grants, scholarships, loans, and dual enrollment options that can reduce college costs. The law specifies that instruction must cover student loan repayment requirements and consequences of default. These provisions directly affect all New Jersey high school students and school districts, aiming to improve informed decision-making about post-high school education financing.
This bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to provide tuition-free job training courses to workers who lost their jobs due to automation. To qualify, workers must have been in the workforce for at least two years, be unemployed or have a layoff notice from an automated workplace, and not receive other state or federal financial aid. Institutions may charge a $20 registration fee per term but cannot require tuition, and courses must have available space with a minimum number of paying students. The bill expands an existing program that previously covered job losses from factory or plant closings.
