New Jersey Assembly Bill A2219

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/22
• Refer: 2/7/22

Caption

Shortens certain school board members' terms when annual school election is moved from November to April; requires approval of both school board and municipal governing body in order to move school election from November to April.

Impact

The bill also shortens the terms of school board members in situations where the election is transitioned from November to April. Specifically, for school board members whose terms were set to expire in January following an April election, their terms will now end on the day after the April election when the new board members are sworn in. This change is intended to adjust the timing of leadership transitions within school districts, aligning them more closely with election cycles.

Summary

Assembly Bill A2219 seeks to amend current laws regarding the scheduling and conduct of school board elections in New Jersey. The bill introduces a significant change by requiring both the local school board and the municipal governing body to approve any resolution to move the date of annual school elections from November back to the third Tuesday in April. Currently, either body may independently initiate such a change, but A2219 mandates a dual approval process. This aims to enhance collaboration and ensure that both entities agree upon the election timing.

Contention

While supporters of A2219 argue that the bill promotes necessary cooperation between school districts and municipal agencies regarding election dates, opponents contend it may complicate election processes and limit flexibility. Some critics express concerns that making election date adjustments contingent upon joint resolution could pose challenges, especially in regions where political alignments between school boards and municipalities differ. With this in mind, the impact of A2219 could lead to a variety of local responses depending on the political climate in specific districts.