New Jersey Assembly Bill A1364

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Establishes measures to provide employment stability for high school coaches employed in school districts.

Impact

The proposed legislation institutes important provisions concerning the dismissal or reduction in compensation for coaches. Specifically, coaches can be terminated or have their pay reduced only for just cause, protecting them from arbitrary or capricious actions by school district officials. In cases where a tenured coach is dismissed based on poor performance evaluations, the bill provides them with an entire year to rectify identified deficiencies, accompanied by support from the school district. Moreover, thorough protocols for challenging dismissals and compensation reductions are established, allowing coaches to request hearings before the board of education.

Summary

Assembly Bill A1364 aims to establish measures that provide employment stability for high school coaches employed in public school districts across New Jersey. The bill mandates that head coaches, who are tenured employees of their respective school districts or out-of-district employees, receive employment contracts set for a three-year term. Similarly, assistant coaches are to be granted contracts for a two-year term. This system of defined contracts seeks to enhance job security for athletic coaches at public high schools, allowing for a smoother transition between terms and the assurance of continued employment unless formally notified otherwise by the board of education.

Contention

This legislation may generate discussions surrounding the economic implications of extending job security to coaches in the public school system. Proponents argue that the structured contract terms and due process rights enhance the professionalism within high school athletics, while critics may view it as limiting the flexibility of school districts in personnel decisions particularly within a performance-based context. The requirement for written notices regarding dismissals and the establishment of a right to a hearing are particularly vital components of the bill, as they ensure transparency and fairness in disciplinary actions against coaches.

Effectiveness

If enacted, A1364 will apply to all public high schools within the state and is set to go into effect immediately once passed. The legislation does not interfere with existing collective bargaining agreements, nor does it alter any civil or criminal laws, suggesting that while it aims to bolster coaches' employment rights, it still acknowledges the existing legal frameworks that govern educational employment.