Bill Text: NJ S3779 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits school districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting policies that bar military members or veterans from addressing students.
Spectrum: Unknown
Status: (Introduced) 2024-10-10 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S3779 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S3779-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.
District 9 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits school districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting policies that bar military members or veterans from addressing students.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning addresses provided by United States military members and veterans at educational institutions and supplementing 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 board of education of a school district shall not adopt a policy, or otherwise engage in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military from speaking to or otherwise addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies.
b. A school district shall forward to the appropriate executive county superintendent any correspondence between the district and an active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military who is seeking to speak or otherwise address students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district.
c. The Commissioner of Education is hereby authorized to withhold all or part of a district's State aid provided pursuant to P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) for failure to comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section.
2. a. The governing board of a public institution of higher education shall not adopt a policy, or otherwise engage in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military from speaking to or otherwise addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the institution including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies.
b. In the event that a public institution of higher education violates the provisions of this section, the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to withhold all or part of the institution's State operating aid.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits schools districts and public institutions of higher education from adopting a policy, or otherwise engaging in a practice, that prohibits or in effect prevents any active member of the United States military or a veteran from speaking to or addressing students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students including, but not limited to, school-sponsored events, classes, school assemblies, and graduation ceremonies. A school district or public institution of higher education that is in violation of the provisions of the bill would be subject to reductions in State support.
The bill also provides that a school district would forward to the appropriate executive county superintendent any correspondence between the district and an active member of the United States military or a veteran of the United States military who is seeking to speak or otherwise address students, sports teams, student clubs, or any other group or assemblage of students of the district.
