S4117

An Act establishing a task force to strengthen and streamline the State’s anti-bullying policies, procedures, and guidelines.

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

1. a. There is established a task force to strengthen and streamline the State’s anti-bullying policies, procedures, and guidelines in the State’s public schools.

b. The task force shall consist of 13 members as follows:

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

(2) four members of the public, each of whom has specialized knowledge or expertise in issues related to the work of the task force. One of the public members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, one shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, one shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one shall be appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; and

(3) eight members appointed by the Governor, who shall include: one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Counselor Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Psychologists; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association; and one member upon the recommendation of the Garden State Coalition of Schools.

c. The appointments to the task force shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.

d. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days following the appointment of its members. The task force shall choose a chairperson from among its members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.

e. The Department of Education shall provide stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistants, and any professional staff as the task force requires to carry out its work. The task force shall also be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes.

2. It shall be the duty of the task force established pursuant to section 1 of this act to:

a. evaluate applicable State law concerning harassment, intimidation, or bullying, particularly the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act,” P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-13 et seq.), and any amendments or supplements thereto, and make recommendations for legislative or administrative action to streamline a school district’s response to harassment, intimidation, or bullying;

b. make recommendations to reduce a school district’s administrative burden in responding to incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying;

c. make recommendations to assist school districts in expediting a response to incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying;

d. evaluate the definition of harassment, intimidation, or bullying pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-14) and make recommendations for any necessary revisions;

e. examine the appeals process for determinations of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and make recommendations for any necessary revisions;

f. research a tiered discipline approach, which considers factors such as the age of the student, to determine if use of the approach may be appropriate in the State; and

g. research best practices that other states have implemented to respond to incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying that may be replicated in the State.

3. The task force established pursuant to section 1 of this act shall issue a final report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than six months after the organization of the task force. The report shall contain the task force’s findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation or administrative action that it deems appropriate.

4. This act shall take effect immediately, and the task force shall expire 30 days after the issuance of its final report.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a task force to strengthen and streamline the State’s anti-bullying policies, procedures, and guidelines in the State’s public schools.

The task force is to consist of 13 members as follows: the Commissioner of Education, or a designee; four members of the public, each of whom has specialized knowledge or expertise in issues related to the work of the task force and are appointed by legislative leadership; and eight members of the public representing the education community who are appointed by the Governor.

Under the bill, the task force is to:

· evaluate applicable State law concerning harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and make recommendations for legislative or administrative action to streamline a school district’s response to harassment, intimidation, or bullying;

· make recommendations to reduce a school district’s administrative burden in responding to incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying;

· make recommendations to assist school districts in expediting a response to incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying;

· evaluate the definition of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in State law and make recommendations for any necessary revisions;

· examine the appeals process for determinations of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and make recommendations for any necessary revisions;

· research a tiered discipline approach, which considers various factors such as the age of the student, to determine if use of the approach may be appropriate in the State; and

· research best practices that other states have implemented to respond to incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying that may be replicated in the State.

The bill directs the task force to issue a final report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than six months after the organization of the task force. The task force is to expire 30 days after the issuance of its final report.