This bill creates a tax credit for New Jersey employers who pay up to $5,000 annually toward the student loans of qualifying STEM graduates. It directly affects employers in the state who hire full-time employees with STEM degrees from New Jersey public colleges, who live and work in New Jersey, and have outstanding, non-defaulted student loans. Employers can claim this credit against corporation business tax or gross income tax, with eligibility certified by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The credit applies to loans paid on or after the date the bill takes effect (January 1 following enactment).
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 establishes "gun-free" and "weapon-free" zones around schools by prohibiting the possession of firearms within 1,000 feet of school buildings, grounds, or school buses without written permission from the school. It also bans certain weapons, such as those that can be assembled into firearms, in these zones without authorization. Possessing firearms in these areas is classified as a third-degree crime, while possessing the banned weapons is a fourth-degree crime. Local governments can use approved maps to define the zone boundaries for enforcement purposes.
This bill requires all New Jersey public schools to prominently display a link to the free or reduced-price school meals application on their official websites. It directly affects public schools, which must place the link in a visible location (like the homepage) rather than burying it in less accessible sections. The provision aims to make it easier for parents and guardians to access the application needed to determine eligibility for federal and state school meal programs each school year. The requirement takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill allows students receiving Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) grants to use a portion of their award for summer courses that count toward graduation or their major. Students must notify the Higher Education Secretary before the academic year starts, which reduces their regular academic year disbursement by a specific amount. The Secretary must annually report how many students used the summer option and their graduation rates within standard timeframes. It directly affects EOF grant recipients at participating New Jersey institutions, implementing a 2016 commission recommendation to improve college affordability.
This bill establishes the New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs statewide. The 22-member commission - including state agency heads, legislative appointees, and representatives from child care organizations, schools, and advocacy groups - will assess current programs, develop statewide standards, examine funding sources, and evaluate program quality across urban, suburban, and rural districts. It must issue an interim report within one year and a final report within two years of forming, including recommendations for improving accountability and quality. The commission expires 30 days after submitting its final report, with no immediate funding or program changes enacted by this bill.
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 establishes the Statewide Skills Academy Network to improve coordination among New Jersey's county colleges, vocational schools, and union training providers. It appropriates $1 million to fund regional skills academies that develop short-term, high-demand training programs, with priority for evening and weekend classes. The network will identify workforce skills gaps, share best practices, and support the creation of accessible training sites for facilities, curriculum, equipment, and staffing. This directly affects community colleges, vocational institutions, and union training programs across the state, aiming to better align training with employer needs and improve job placement outcomes.
This bill (A2904) prevents New Jersey school districts with unpaid balances on state-issued loans from facing automatic reductions in State school aid. It directly affects districts that borrowed funds - such as advance State aid payments or emergency aid - under current law. Instead of reducing future aid to repay these loans, the bill requires districts to use their surplus funds (undesignated general fund balances) to repay the debt, as reflected in their annual school budgets. This changes the repayment mechanism from aid cuts to direct budgetary repayment, applying to districts otherwise subject to aid reductions under existing funding rules.
This bill creates a $100,000 grant program administered by New Jersey's Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to support nonprofit organizations providing financial literacy education. Nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) groups) can receive up to $5,000 per grant to develop and teach classes on budgeting, credit management, debt, and investing in high schools, colleges, and adult education settings. The program aims to expand access to financial education where such classes are currently limited, with funds expiring one year after full expenditure. It directly affects eligible nonprofits and the public by funding concrete educational resources without changing existing laws or regulations.
