Bill Text: NJ S2860 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-09-30 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S2860 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-S2860-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2860

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 4, 2024

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  TROY SINGLETON

District 7 (Burlington)

Senator  JAMES BEACH

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Education Committee on September 30, 2024, with amendments.

  

An Act establishing the Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

      ¹1. As used in this act, "public school" means a school district, charter school, and renaissance school project in the State.¹

 

      ¹[1.] 2.¹  The Commissioner of Education shall administer a two-year Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program. The program shall award grants to ¹[school districts] public schools¹ to help enhance school athletic programs by providing students with sports equipment and other resources to participate in sports and physical activities in schools.

 

      ¹[2.] 3.¹  a. A ¹[school district] public school¹ that wants to apply for a grant under the pilot program shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education.  The application shall, at a minimum, include:

      (1) relevant information to support the ¹[district's] public school's¹ need for such a program;

      (2) information concerning the availability and quality of existing athletic program equipment and resources in the ¹[district] public school¹;

      (3) any other information as prescribed by the commissioner.

      b. The commissioner shall select six ¹[school districts] public schools¹ for participation in the pilot program.  To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner shall select ¹[school districts] public schools¹ in the southern, central, and northern regions of the State and shall seek a cross section of ¹[school districts] public schools¹ from urban, suburban, and rural areas.

 

      ¹[3.] 4.¹ a. At the conclusion of the pilot program each participating ¹[school district] public school¹ shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Education.  The report shall include, at a minimum, information on the number of students who were served by the pilot program, including the number of students in each grade level; and the ¹[school district's] public school's¹ views on the success and benefits of the program.

      b. After receiving the reports from each participating ¹[school district] public school¹, 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), on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program. The report shall include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional ¹[school districts] public schools¹ in the State.

 

     ¹[4.] 5.¹  This act shall take effect immediately.