Bill Text: NJ S1780 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits school district from denying admittance to student due to tardiness or violation of dress code or school uniform policy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-12-05 - Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading [S1780 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S1780-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits school district from denying admittance to student due to tardiness or violation of dress code or school uniform policy.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning school disciplinary actions, amending P.L.1996, c.93, and supplementing chapter 11 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.1996, c.93 (C.18A:11-8) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. A board of education may adopt a dress code policy to require that students wear a school uniform if the policy is requested by the principal, staff and parents of an individual school and if the board determines that the policy will enhance the school learning environment. Any policy adopted which requires the wearing of a uniform shall include a provision to assist economically disadvantaged students. The board shall hold a public hearing prior to the adoption of the policy and shall not implement the policy with less than three months' notice to the parents or guardians of the students. The specific uniform selected shall be determined by the principal, staff, and parents of the individual school.
b. The board of education may provide a method whereby parents may choose not to comply with an adopted school uniform policy. If the board provides such a method, a student shall not be penalized academically or otherwise discriminated against [nor denied admittance to school] if the student's parents choose not to comply with the school uniform policy.
c. A dress code policy adopted pursuant to this section shall not preclude students who participate in a nationally recognized youth organization which is approved by the board of education from wearing organization uniforms to school on days that the organization has scheduled a meeting.
(cf: P.L.1996, c.93, s.2)
2. (New section) A student shall not be denied admittance to school due to tardiness.
3. (New section) A student shall not be denied admittance to school due to a violation of a school uniform policy or dress code policy, except as may be provided pursuant to a dress code policy adopted pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1996, c.93 (C.18A:11-9).
4. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that a student cannot be denied admittance to school due to tardiness. The bill also provides that a student cannot be denied admittance to school due to a violation of a school uniform policy or dress code policy, except in the case of a violation of section 2 of P.L.1996, c.93 (C. 18A:11-9). That section of law allows a board of education to adopt a dress code policy that prohibits students from wearing clothing, apparel, or accessories indicating membership in, or affiliation with, any gang associated with criminal activities.
