Education (School Safety)

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 346: Modifies minimum requirements for school district policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying.

This bill (A 346) requires New Jersey school districts to adopt policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying that include specific minimum components. The policies must define prohibited behavior using existing state standards, outline expected student conduct, detail tiered consequences (starting with counseling for first offenses and requiring individual intervention plans for third offenses), and establish clear reporting procedures allowing anonymous reports but prohibiting disciplinary action based solely on anonymous tips. School districts must investigate incidents within 10 school days and follow strict timelines for reporting to principals and superintendents. The bill directly affects all public school districts, students, and school staff by mandating standardized approaches to addressing bullying behavior.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates detailed anti-bullying policies with tiered consequences and reporting procedures, enhancing school safety and student well-being within educational environment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 24, 2026

A 4479: Requires school bus personnel members to call 911 emergency line in potential life-threatening emergencies; requires certain school buses transportating students with disabilities to be equipped with certain safety features; makes appropriation.

This bill requires school bus drivers and personnel to call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies involving students. It mandates that school buses transporting students with disabilities be equipped with specific safety features (though exact features aren't detailed in the text). The bill also requires annual safety training for all bus personnel, including emergency procedures and recognizing signs of life-threatening situations for students with disabilities. Funding for these requirements is included through an appropriation. The bill directly affects school bus operators, drivers, aides, and students with disabilities in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly makes an appropriation for school bus safety features and training, directly funding a public safety program within state budget allocations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates safety features for buses transporting students with disabilities, emergency training, and funds these requirements, enhancing student safety and accessibility in K-12 transportation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates safety training and equipment for school bus personnel, directly improving workplace safety standards for workers handling student transportation emergencies.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates safety features and emergency training for school buses, enhancing vehicle safety standards in transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Safety School Transportation Public Transit Tags Public Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 373: Requires school safety teams to include coaches; broadens definition of "harassment, intimidation or bullying" to include hazing; requires coaches and certain advisors to complete training on anti-bullying policy.

This New Jersey bill (A 373) requires school safety teams to include coaches and broadens the definition of "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" to explicitly include hazing behavior. It directly affects public schools, coaches of athletic programs, and advisors of extracurricular activities by mandating they complete annual anti-bullying training focused on protected characteristics like race, gender, and disability. Key provisions include adding coaches to school safety teams (which must meet twice yearly), expanding bullying definitions to cover hazing, and requiring districts to train staff on preventing bullying based on protected categories. The bill also mandates schools to incorporate anti-bullying policies into staff training and provide accessible policy information to relevant school personnel.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires anti-bullying training for coaches/advisors, broadens harassment definition to include hazing, directly enhances school safety protocols in K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3597: Requires boards of education to adopt suicide prevention policies and DOE to establish model suicide prevention policy.

This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts (K-12) to adopt suicide prevention policies covering proactive measures, immediate response to suicidal behavior, and support after suicide attempts or deaths. The New Jersey Department of Education must create a model policy to guide school boards, which must consult with mental health professionals and community stakeholders when developing their local policies. The policy must address prevention (identifying risks and resources), intervention (immediate response protocols), and postvention (support after incidents), while recognizing high-risk student groups. School boards must post the policy online and notify students, parents, and guardians of its availability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates suicide prevention policies in K-12 schools, enhancing student mental health support and safety within educational environments.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school suicide prevention policies with mental health professional consultation, directly advancing mental health services in schools per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3334: Clarifies policy analysis and development under "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act"; strengthens investigations; amends definition of harassment, intimidation, and bullying; and allows anti-bullying specialists to receive remuneration.

This bill amends New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act to clarify definitions and strengthen school responses to harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB). It updates the definition to explicitly include gender identity/expression and add new protections, while creating a tiered system for student consequences (counseling for first incidents, intervention plans for repeat offenses). Schools must now follow stricter reporting procedures, including written reports within two days and allowing anonymous reports (though disciplinary action requires non-anonymous evidence). The bill also permits anti-bullying specialists to receive paid compensation for their work. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Education Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationStrengthens school anti-bullying policies to protect students, enhancing educational access and safety in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2719: Allows law enforcement agencies to provide juvenile-family crisis information to principal of juvenile's school for planning programs relevant to juvenile's educational and social development.

This New Jersey bill (A 2719) allows law enforcement to confidentially share limited information about a juvenile involved in a family crisis with their school principal. The principal may use this information, shared only with appropriate staff, to develop school programs supporting the juvenile's educational and social needs. The bill strictly prohibits using this information for school discipline and bans maintaining records of the shared details, except as authorized by the State Board of Education.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables law enforcement to share juvenile crisis info with schools for supportive programs, preventing future justice system involvement by addressing root causes early. Aligns with reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows schools to develop programs supporting at-risk students' educational/social needs using confidential law enforcement data, enhancing student support systems without restrictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement School Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2623: Requires executive county superintendent to distribute funds to each public school located in county for purchase of tourniquets and requires training on tourniquet use; appropriates up to $500,000.

This bill (A 2623) requires New Jersey executive county superintendents to distribute up to $500,000 in state funds to public school districts for purchasing tourniquets. It mandates that tourniquets be placed in unlocked, clearly marked locations accessible during school hours and school-sponsored events. The bill also requires annual training for school employees (including nurses, safety officers, and teachers) on tourniquet use and bleeding control, which schools may provide through partnerships with local emergency services. Schools must submit annual compliance statements to county superintendents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates $500,000 for school safety equipment and training, directly allocating state funds to public schools for emergency preparedness.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires tourniquet procurement and annual safety training for school staff, directly enhancing workplace safety protocols for employees.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4264: Directs DOE to develop guidelines for school districts concerning student mental health services.

This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE), in partnership with the Departments of Human Services and Children and Families, to create and distribute guidelines for school districts on providing student mental health services. The guidelines must cover eight key areas, including implementing trauma-informed care systems, establishing community partnerships, ensuring culturally sensitive services for English learners, incorporating virtual options, evaluating service effectiveness, and identifying funding sources. School districts will receive these guidelines, which the DOE must post online and update annually with input from educators and mental health professionals. The bill applies to all New Jersey public school districts and aims to improve access to mental health support for students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates DOE to develop mental health service guidelines for schools, enhancing student support programs and access to care, directly strengthening educational services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates DOE to develop guidelines for school mental health services, directly expanding access and support for student mental health care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1317: Extends requirements on use of restraint and seclusion to all students; requires immediate parental notification; requires DOE to collect and report data regarding use of restraint and seclusion on students.

This bill expands New Jersey's school restraint and seclusion rules to apply to **all students** (previously limited to students with disabilities). It requires schools to: 1) Use physical restraint or seclusion **only in emergencies** posing immediate danger, 2) **Notify parents immediately** (by phone/electronic message) and provide a written report within 48 hours, 3) **Collect and report annual data** to the Department of Education (DOE) on usage, including student demographics like race, gender, and disability type. The DOE must publish this data publicly while protecting student privacy, and schools must hold meetings with parents for repeated incidents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student safety protections by expanding restraint/seclusion rules to all students, requiring parental notification and data reporting, aligning with educational safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Special Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 370: Requires development of guidance and training to address social media in harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools; revises student learning standards to include instruction on social media in school bullying.

This New Jersey bill (A 370) requires public school districts to update anti-bullying policies and staff training to specifically address social media's role in harassment, intimidation, and bullying. It mandates that schools incorporate instruction on social media-related bullying into employee training programs and school-wide prevention efforts, including topics like protected characteristics and digital safety. The bill also revises student learning standards to include social media education within bullying prevention curricula. These changes apply directly to all New Jersey public school districts, staff, and students, with implementation supported through existing state resources and training programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to revise anti-bullying policies and learning standards to address social media bullying, enhancing student safety and digital literacy education in K-12 curriculum.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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