STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts and municipalities to enter into shared services agreements for purpose of verifying student residency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning student residency and supplementing chapter 38 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. Each school district shall, pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2007, c.63 (C.40A:65-1 et al.), enter into a shared services agreement with each municipality in which students of the district reside for the purpose of verifying student residency, in accordance with applicable State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Under the agreement:
(1) each school district shall prepare on an annual basis a report which lists the residential address of each student enrolled in the district. The district shall submit the report to each municipality in which students of the district reside on or before November 1 of each year; and
(2) each municipality shall review the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection and verify, to the extent feasible, student residency. The municipality shall submit a list to the school district of all student addresses that could not be verified within 30 days of the receipt of the report.
b. Unverified student addresses shall be subject to additional review by the school district, in accordance with applicable State and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
c. The Commissioner of Education shall impose a fine of not more than $500 for each violation on each school district that fails to comply with the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires school districts and municipalities to enter into shared services agreements for the purpose of verifying student residency.
Under the bill, each school district is required to enter into a shared services agreement with each municipality in which students of the district reside for the purpose of verifying student residency, in accordance with applicable State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Under the agreement:
(1) each school district is required to annually prepare a report which lists the residential address of each student enrolled in the district; and
(2) each municipality is required to review the report and verify, to the extent feasible, student residency. The municipality is further required to submit a list to the school district of all student addresses that could not be verified within 30 days of the receipt of the report.
Under the bill, unverified student addresses would be subject to additional review by the school district. The bill provides the Commissioner of Education with the authority to impose a fine of not more than $500 on each school district that fails to comply with the provisions of the bill.