ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2689

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 3, 2016

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2689.

      This bill is entitled the “Secure Schools for All Children Act.”  The bill establishes a State aid program for the provision of security services, equipment, or technology to help ensure a safe and secure school environment for students attending nonpublic schools.

      Under the provisions of the bill the superintendent of schools of each school district in which a nonpublic school is located will confer annually with the chief school administrator of the nonpublic school.  The superintendent and the chief school administrator will confer in order to agree upon the security services, equipment, or technology that will be provided to the students of the nonpublic school within the limits of available funds.   If the superintendent and the chief school administrator are unable to agree on the security services, equipment, or technology, then the executive county superintendent will make the final determination.

      Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the maximum amount or State support limit which may be appropriated for the purposes of the bill is $144.42 per nonpublic school student.  This amount reflects the average per pupil amount that is provided to public schools for school security.  The amount will be increased each school year by the consumer price index.  Each year the school district will forward to the Commissioner of Education an estimate of the cost of providing, during the next school year, the security services, equipment, or technology required pursuant to the bill and the number for students attending the nonpublic schools located within the district as of the last school day of October of the current school year.  The commissioner will provide State aid to the district in an amount equal to the number of nonpublic school students multiplied by the State support limit.

      The State Board of Education is required to promulgate rules to effectuate the bill’s provisions in a manner that comports with the provisions of the State and federal Constitutions.  The rules to be promulgated will include a list of allowable expenditures for the security services, equipment, and technology to help ensure a safe and secure school environment for nonpublic school students.