A4038

An Act concerning security and safety at institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic schools and supplementing chapter 9 of Appendix A.

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

1. a. The New Jersey Commission on College and School Safety and Security is created and established in the Executive Branch of the State Government. For the purpose of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the commission is allocated within the Department of Education, but notwithstanding this allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or any board or office thereof.

b. The commission shall consist of 17 members as follows:

(1) the Commissioner of Education, or a designee;

(2) the Secretary of Higher Education, or a designee;

(3) the Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, or a designee;

(4) the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, or a designee;

(5) three members representing institutions of higher education in the State to be appointed by the Governor, including one member who is the president of a State college or university, or a designee; one member who is the president of a county college, or a designee; and one member who is the president of a public research university, or a designee;

(6) six members of the public to be appointed by the Governor, including: the chief school administrator of a nonpublic school; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; and one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey College and University Public Safety Association; and

(7) four members of the public to be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, Speaker of the General Assembly, Minority Leader of the Senate, and Minority Leader of the General Assembly, two of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in the development or implementation of school security standards or technology, one of whom is an active or retired law enforcement officer, and one of whom is an active or retired mental health professional.

c. Each public member of the commission shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the initial members appointed, four members shall serve for a term of one year, three members shall serve for a term of two years, and three members shall serve for a term of three years. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment and shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. The term of the successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of the term of that incumbent. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.

d. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

e. The commission shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of its members and annually shall elect a chairperson from among its members. It shall meet upon the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the commission members. The presence of a majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall be required for the conduct of official business.

f. The commission shall appoint an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure and shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office.

2. a. The commission shall identify potential security challenges and vulnerabilities at institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic preschool, elementary, and secondary schools throughout the State, and make recommendations to improve school safety and security.

b. The responsibilities and duties of the commission related to institutions of higher education shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) reviewing campus emergency management plans, emergency response capabilities, and any other practices implemented at institutions of higher education;

(2) assessing current response times in emergency situations, including lockdowns, active shooters, and bomb threats;

(3) assessing and analyzing the effectiveness of current campus technology used to ensure safety and security on college campuses;

(4) reviewing the physical infrastructure on college campuses and the extent to which campuses are equipped with features, technology, and services to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty, and visitors;

(5) analyzing the mental health services and training provided on college campuses as it relates to campus security;

(6) considering strategies to ensure the needs of students with disabilities are reflected in all areas of emergency planning and response measures; and

(7) developing, based upon the knowledge and experience of its members, guidelines and recommendations on best practices for ensuring a safe and secure school environment.

c. The responsibilities and duties of the commission related to public and nonpublic preschool, elementary, and secondary schools shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) reviewing current school safety and security plans adopted by public and nonpublic schools;

(2) assessing current response times in emergency situations, including lockdowns, active shooters, and bomb threats;

(3) assessing and analyzing the effectiveness of current school technology used to ensure the safety and security of school facilities and grounds;

(4) assessing the impact of “Alyssa’s Law,” P.L.2019, c.33 (C.18A:41-10 et seq.);

(5) reviewing the physical infrastructure of public and nonpublic schools and the extent to which schools are equipped with features, technology, and services to ensure the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors;

(6) analyzing the mental health services and training provided at schools as it relates to school security;

(7) considering strategies to ensure the needs of students with disabilities are reflected in all areas of emergency planning and response measures; and

(8) developing, based upon the knowledge and experience of its members, guidelines and recommendations on best practices for ensuring a safe and secure school environment.

d. In developing its guidelines and recommendations, the commission shall research effective strategies that have been employed in other states, and refer to and incorporate existing State research, data, recommendations, and standards, including recommendations from prior task forces and entities established by the Governor and Legislature to examine the issue of campus and school security.

e. The Legislature shall review, and as appropriate, pursue legislation towards implementing the guidelines and recommendations of the commission.

f. The State shall appropriate such funds as may be necessary to implement the guidelines and recommendations of the commission.

3 a. The commission is authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of the State, or of any county, municipality, school district, or public institution of higher education of the State, to supply such data, program reports and other information, personnel, and assistance as it deems necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this act.

b. The departments, offices, divisions, and agencies shall, to the extent possible, and not inconsistent with any other law of this State, cooperate with the commission and shall furnish it with such information, personnel, and assistance as may be necessary or helpful to accomplish the purposes of this act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the New Jersey Commission on College and School Safety and Security. The commission is allocated within the Department of Education, but is independent of any supervision or control by the department thereof. The commission is responsible for studying and developing recommendations to improve school safety and security at institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic preschool, elementary, and secondary schools throughout the State.

The commission is to consist of 17 members that include individuals representing State government, institutions of higher education, law enforcement officers, public and nonpublic schools, and individuals with expertise in school security.

It is the duty of the commission to identify potential security challenges and vulnerabilities at institutions of higher education and public and nonpublic preschool, elementary, and secondary schools throughout the State. As to institutions of higher education, the responsibilities and duties of the commission include: (1) reviewing campus emergency management plans, emergency response capabilities, and any other practices implemented at institutions of higher education; (2) assessing current response times in emergency situations, including lockdowns, active shooters, and bomb threats; (3) assessing and analyzing the effectiveness of current campus technology used to ensure safety and security on college campuses; (4) reviewing the physical infrastructure on college campuses and the extent to which campuses are equipped with features, technology, and services to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty, and visitors; (5) analyzing the mental health services and training provided on college campuses as it relates to campus security; (6) considering strategies to ensure the needs of students with disabilities are reflected in all areas of emergency planning and response measures; and (7) developing, based upon the knowledge and experience of its members, guidelines and recommendations on best practices for ensuring a safe and secure school environment.

As to public and nonpublic preschool, elementary, and secondary schools, the responsibilities and duties of the commission include: (1) reviewing current school safety and security plans adopted by public and nonpublic schools; (2) assessing current response times in emergency situations, including lockdowns, active shooters, and bomb threats; (3) assessing and analyzing the effectiveness of current school technology used to ensure safety and security of school facilities and grounds; (4) assessing the impact of “Alyssa’s Law,” which generally required the installation of panic alarms in public schools; (5) reviewing the physical infrastructure of public and nonpublic schools and the extent to which schools are equipped with features, technology, and services to ensure the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors; (6) analyzing the mental health services and training provided at schools as it relates to school security; (7) considering strategies to ensure the needs of students with disabilities are reflected in all areas of emergency planning and response measures; and (8) developing, based upon the knowledge and experience of its members, guidelines and recommendations on best practices for ensuring a safe and secure school environment.

Finally the bill requires the Legislature to review, and as appropriate, pursue legislation towards implementing the guidelines and recommendations of the commission. The State is to appropriate such funds as may be necessary to implement the guidelines and recommendations of the commission.

The sponsor believes that with the rapid changes in technology and crime prevention, as well as the expansion of preschool education, there is a need for a permanent commission rather than occasional task forces on issues surrounding school security.