New Jersey-2022-A4075-Amended

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen McKnight, Lopez, Assemblyman Danielsen, Assemblywomen Jasey, Piperno, Eulner and Park

SYNOPSIS

Requires public schools to develop threat assessment teams.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on June 23, 2022, with amendments.

An Act concerning the establishment of threat assessment teams in public schools and supplementing chapter 17 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. ¹[Each] The board of education of each¹ school district ¹and the board of trustees of each charter school or renaissance school project¹ shall develop ²and adopt² a policy for the establishment of a threat assessment team at each school ¹[in the district]¹. The purpose of a threat assessment team shall be to provide school teachers, administrators, and other staff with assistance in identifying students ²of concern, assessing those students' risk for engaging in violence or other harmful activities, and delivering intervention strategies to manage the risk of harm for students² who pose a potential safety risk, ²[preventing] to prevent² targeted violence in the ¹[district] school¹, and ²[ensuring] ensure² a safe and secure school environment that enhances the learning experience for all members of the school community.

b. A threat assessment team established by a board of education ¹or a board of trustees¹ under subsection a. of this section shall be multidisciplinary in membership and, to the extent possible, shall include the following individuals:

(1) a school psychologist, school counselor, school social worker, or other school employee with expertise in student counseling;

(2) a teaching staff member;

(3) a school principal or other senior school administrator; ¹[and]¹

(4) a safe schools resource officer or school employee who serves as a school liaison to law enforcement ¹; and

(5) the school safety specialist designated pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2017, c.162 (C.18A:17-43.3), in the event that the school safety specialist is not already a school administrator or school employee required to be a part of the threat assessment team pursuant to this section¹.

Additional school employees may serve as regular members of the threat assessment team or may be consulted during the threat assessment process, as determined to be appropriate by the team.

c. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as affecting the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement or individual contract of employment in effect on this act's effective date.

2. ¹a.¹ Any policy developed by a school district ¹, charter school or renaissance school project¹ concerning the establishment of a threat assessment team, required pursuant to section 1 of this act, shall ¹be aligned with guidelines developed by the Department of Education pursuant to section 3 of this act and shall¹ include, but need not be limited to:

¹[a.] (1)¹ guidance for students, teachers, and all school staff regarding the recognition of threatening or aberrant behavior in a student that may represent a threat to the school community;

¹[b.] (2)¹ the designation of members of the school community to whom threatening behavior shall be reported;

¹[c.] (3)¹ the development and implementation of policies concerning the assessment and intervention of students whose behavior poses a threat to the safety of the school community, and appropriate actions to be taken, including available social, developmental, and law enforcement resources, for students whose behavior is identified as posing a threat to the safety of the school community;

¹[d.] (4)¹ coordination and consultation with the ¹[school district's]¹ school safety specialist designated pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2017, c.162 (C.18A:17-43.3); and

¹[e.] (5)¹ a policy that the threat assessment team shall not disclose or disseminate any information obtained during their assessment beyond the purpose for which the information was provided to the threat assessment team, except that the threat assessment team is authorized to disclose the information to applicable agencies to pursue appropriate action pursuant to ¹[subsection c.] paragraph (3)¹ of this ¹[section] subsection¹ for any student whose behavior is identified as posing a threat to the safety of the school community.

¹b. When assessing a student whose behavior may pose a threat to the safety of the school community, in the case of a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, the threat assessment team shall consult with the IEP team or 504 team to determine whether the aberrant behavior is a threat to school safety and is being properly addressed in a manner that is required by N.J.A.C.6A:14 and all federal and State special education laws.

c. Each member of the threat assessment team shall participate in training ²provided by the school safety specialist designated pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2017, c.162 (C.18A:17-43.3) that is² consistent with the guidelines developed by the department pursuant to section 3 of this act to ensure that the threat assessment team is able to accurately assess student behavior and to ensure that threat assessment teams do not have a disparate impact on students based on their race, ethnicity, ²homelessness status,² religious belief, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. The training shall, at a minimum, include training on adverse childhood experiences, childhood trauma, cultural competency, and implicit bias.¹

3. The Department of Education, in consultation with State law enforcement agencies and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, shall develop guidelines for school districts ¹, charter schools, and renaissance school projects¹ regarding the establishment and training of threat assessment teams pursuant to this act. ²The Department of Education shall provide training through the New Jersey School Safety Specialist Academy established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2017, c.162 (C.18A:17-43.2). The school safety specialist designated pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2017, c.162 (C.18A:17-43.3) shall provide training to school staff consistent with the training and guidelines provided by the department.²

4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year next following the date of enactment.