SENATE, No. 1780
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
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
As reported by the Senate Education Committee on December 5, 2024, with amendments.
An Act concerning school disciplinary actions, amending P.L.1996, c.93, and supplementing chapter 1[11] 381 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 1,1 and parents of an individual school 1,1 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 1[such]1 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) 1a.1 A student shall not be denied admittance to school due to 1:
(1)1 tardiness 1; or
(2) 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).
b. Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the ability to enforce any board of education adopted student code of conduct or policy that is outside the purview of this section1.
1[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).]1
1[4.] 3.1 This act shall take effect immediately.