Bill Text: NJ A212 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes pilot program in DOE to recruit, select, and train veterans for school security positions in school districts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [A212 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A212-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes pilot program in DOE to recruit, select, and train veterans for school security positions in school districts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing a school security position pilot program and supplementing chapter 41 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 Commissioner of Education shall establish a three-year pilot program that provides for the training and placement of veterans in school security positions available in school districts. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to increase school security by utilizing the skills of veterans.
b. The commissioner, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall establish policies and procedures for the recruitment, selection, and training of veterans eligible to participate in the pilot program, and for matching the selected veterans to school security positions available in school districts. The policies shall evaluate the level of skills, training, experience, fitness, and other qualifications deemed necessary for a veteran to serve in a school security position.
Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the commissioner may utilize the education and training program for security officers established pursuant to section 5 of the "Security Officer Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-5), to train eligible veterans for school security positions under the pilot program.
c. A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program shall submit an application to the commissioner in such form as required by the commissioner. The school district, as part of the application, shall include information on the security needs of the school district, the number of school security positions at each school, the rate of turnover in these positions, and other information as required by the commissioner.
d. The commissioner shall select up to 12 school districts for participation in the pilot program. The commissioner shall select districts in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and shall seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State.
In selecting the pilot school districts, the commissioner shall consider the security needs of the district as reflected in the data reported in the commissioner's annual report on violence, vandalism, and harassment, intimidation, or bullying in the public schools, as required under section 3 of P.L.1982, c.163 (C.18A:17-48).
e. Three years following the establishment of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). The report shall contain information on the implementation of the pilot program, the effectiveness of veterans in school security positions, and the recommendations of the commissioner and the Attorney General on the advisability of continuing, expanding, or modifying the program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a three-year pilot program that provides for the training and placement of veterans in school security positions available in school districts. The purpose of the pilot program is to increase school security by utilizing the skills of veterans.
The bill directs the commissioner, in consultation with the Attorney General, to establish policies and procedures for the recruitment, selection, and training of veterans eligible to participate in the pilot program, and for matching the selected veterans to school security positions available in school districts. The policies will evaluate the level of skills, training, experience, fitness, and other qualifications deemed necessary for a veteran to serve in a school security position. The bill also authorizes the Commissioner of Education to utilize the education and training program for security officers established under the "Security Officer Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-1 et seq.), to train eligible veterans for school security positions in school districts.
A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program may submit an application to the commissioner in such form as required by the commissioner. The commissioner will select up to 12 school districts from the northern, central, and southern regions of the State for participation in the pilot program. In selecting the pilot school districts, the commissioner will consider the security needs of the district as reflected in the data reported in the commissioner's annual report on violence, vandalism, and harassment, intimidation, or bullying in the public schools.
The bill also directs the commissioner to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature, three years following the establishment of the pilot program, that contains information on the implementation of the pilot program, the effectiveness of veterans on school safety and security, and the recommendations of the commissioner and Attorney General on the advisability of continuing, expanding, or modifying the program.
Establishes pilot program in DOE to recruit, select, and train veterans for school security positions in school districts.
