S2867

An Act concerning student learning support and supplementing chapter 36 of 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 Department of Education shall establish and maintain a central, searchable registry of individuals and organizations interested in offering free tutoring services to students throughout the State. The registry shall contain information provided by each registrant including, but not limited to, the registrant’s name, contact information, subject matter expertise, and a tutoring availability schedule. The department shall make the registry publicly available on its Internet website.

b. The following individuals and organizations may apply to the department for inclusion on the registry established pursuant to subsection a. of this section:

(1) A teacher who holds a New Jersey provisional or standard instructional certificate;

(2) A retired New Jersey teacher who was in good standing at the time of retirement;

(3) A student enrolled in a two- or four-year institution of higher education in the State;

(4) An industry professional with relevant subject matter expertise;

(5) An organization with relevant subject matter expertise; and

(6) Any other person or organization the department deems appropriate.

c. No registrant shall charge or receive any fee for services provided in connection with the central registry established pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

d. (1) An individual applying for inclusion on the registry pursuant to subsection b. of this section, except an individual included in paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section who has undergone a prior criminal history record check as required by law, shall undergo a criminal history record check pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1986, c.116 (C.18A:6-7.1 et seq.) and shall not be included on the registry established pursuant to subsection a. of this section prior to completion of the criminal history record check.

(2) An organization applying for inclusion on the registry shall submit a statement of assurances to the department affirming that an individual providing tutoring services on behalf of, or as a representative of, the organization has undergone a criminal history record check pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this section. An organization that willfully provides false information under the provisions of this paragraph shall be fined not more than $500.

(3) The department may reimburse an individual for the cost of the criminal history check required pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.

e. The department shall include on the registry a disclaimer stating that the information regarding individuals and organizations on the registry has not been independently verified and is not meant to be an endorsement or recommendation by the department as to the quality of the tutoring services offered.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill directs the Department of Education (DOE) to establish and maintain a central, searchable registry of individuals and organizations interested in offering free tutoring services to students throughout the State. The registry is to contain the name, contact information, subject matter expertise, and a tutoring availability schedule of each registrant. The DOE is required by the bill to make the registry publicly available to all New Jersey residents on its Internet website.

Under the bill, the following individuals and organizations may apply to the DOE for inclusion on the central registry: (1) a teacher who holds a New Jersey provisional or standard instructional certificate; (2) a retired New Jersey teacher who was in good standing at the time of retirement; (3) a student enrolled in a two- or four-year institution of higher education in the State; (4) an industry professional with relevant subject matter expertise; (5) an organization with relevant subject matter expertise; and (6) any other person or organization the department deems appropriate. Registrants may not charge or receive any fee for services provided in connection with the registry.

Under the bill, an individual applying for inclusion on the registry, except a teacher who holds a New Jersey provisional or standard instructional certification who has undergone a prior criminal history record check as required by law, is required to undergo a criminal history record check prior to inclusion on the registry. An organization applying for inclusion on the registry is required to submit a statement of assurances to the DOE affirming that an individual providing tutoring services on behalf of, or as a representative of the organization, has undergone a criminal history record check. An organization that willfully provides false information specific to this requirement will be fined not more than $500. The DOE may reimburse an individual for the cost of the criminal history record check.

The DOE is required to inform users of the registry that the information provided on individuals and organizations listed on the registry has not been independently verified and is not meant to be an endorsement or recommendation by the department as to the quality of the tutoring services offered.