New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A1566 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 12/21/2023

                            ASSEMBLY, No. 1566   STATE OF NEW JERSEY 221st LEGISLATURE    PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION   

ASSEMBLY, No. 1566 



STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

  

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

   Sponsored by: Assemblywoman  VICTORIA A. FLYNN District 13 (Monmouth) Assemblyman  GERRY SCHARFENBERGER District 13 (Monmouth)   Co-Sponsored by: Assemblywoman Dunn         SYNOPSIS      Prohibits school districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting policies that bar military members or veterans from addressing students.    CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT       Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.     

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  VICTORIA A. FLYNN

District 13 (Monmouth)

Assemblyman  GERRY SCHARFENBERGER

District 13 (Monmouth)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Dunn

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Prohibits school districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting policies that bar military members or veterans from addressing students. 

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

   

 An Act concerning addresses provided by United States military members and veterans at educational institutions and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.        Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:        1.  a.  The board of education of a school district shall not adopt a policy, or otherwise engage in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military from speaking to or otherwise addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies.      b.  A school district shall forward to the appropriate executive county superintendent any correspondence between the district and an active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military who is seeking to speak or otherwise address students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district.        c. The Commissioner of Education is hereby authorized to withhold all or part of a district's State aid provided pursuant to P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) for failure to comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section.         2.  a.  The governing board of a public institution of higher education shall not adopt a policy, or otherwise engage in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military from speaking to or otherwise addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the institution including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies.      b. In the event that a public institution of higher education violates the provisions of this section, the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to withhold all or part of the institution's State operating aid.         3.  This act shall take effect immediately.     STATEMENT        This bill prohibits schools districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting a policy, or otherwise engaging in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran from speaking to or addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies. A school district or public institution of higher education that is in violation of the provisions of the bill would be subject to reductions in State support.       The bill also provides that a school district would forward to the appropriate executive county superintendent any correspondence between the district and an active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military who is seeking to speak or otherwise address students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district. 

An Act concerning addresses provided by United States military members and veterans at educational institutions and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  a.  The board of education of a school district shall not adopt a policy, or otherwise engage in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military from speaking to or otherwise addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies.

     b.  A school district shall forward to the appropriate executive county superintendent any correspondence between the district and an active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military who is seeking to speak or otherwise address students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district.  

     c. The Commissioner of Education is hereby authorized to withhold all or part of a district's State aid provided pursuant to P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) for failure to comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section. 

 

     2.  a.  The governing board of a public institution of higher education shall not adopt a policy, or otherwise engage in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military from speaking to or otherwise addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the institution including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies.

     b. In the event that a public institution of higher education violates the provisions of this section, the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to withhold all or part of the institution's State operating aid. 

 

     3.  This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill prohibits schools districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting a policy, or otherwise engaging in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran from speaking to or addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies. A school district or public institution of higher education that is in violation of the provisions of the bill would be subject to reductions in State support. 

     The bill also provides that a school district would forward to the appropriate executive county superintendent any correspondence between the district and an active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military who is seeking to speak or otherwise address students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district.