New Jersey-2010-S826-Chaptered

An Act concerning certain benefits for school district employees and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

1. In order for a board of education to provide to an employee tuition assistance for coursework taken at an institution of higher education or additional compensation upon the acquisition of additional academic credits or completion of a degree program at an institution of higher education:

a. The institution shall be a duly authorized institution of higher education as defined in section 3 of P.L.1986, c.87 (C.18A:3-15.3);

b. The employee shall obtain approval from the superintendent of schools prior to enrollment in any course for which tuition assistance is sought. In the event that the superintendent denies the approval, the employee may appeal the denial to the board of education.

In the case of a superintendent, the approval shall be obtained from the board of education; and

c. The tuition assistance or additional compensation shall be provided only for a course or degree related to the employee's current or future job responsibilities.

2. Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the authority of a board of education to establish more stringent requirements for the provision of tuition assistance or additional compensation than the requirements set forth in section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

3. This act shall take effect on July 1 of the school year next following the date of enactment, except that this act shall not be deemed to impair an obligation set forth in a collective negotiations agreement or an individual contract of employment in effect on the effective date.

STATEMENT

This bill requires that in order for a board of education to provide its employees tuition assistance for academic coursework at an institution of higher education or additional compensation upon the acquisition of additional academic credits or completion of a degree program at an institution of higher education:

1) The institution of higher education must be a "duly authorized institution of higher education," which is defined in State law at section 3 of P.L.1986, c.87 (C.18A:3-15.3);

2) The employee must obtain approval from the superintendent of schools prior to enrollment in any course for which tuition assistance is sought. In the event that the superintendent denies the approval, the employee may appeal the denial to the board of education. In the case of a superintendent of schools, the approval must be obtained from the board of education; and,

3) The course or degree must be related to the employee's current or future job responsibilities.

The bill provides that a board of education may establish more stringent requirements for the provision of tuition assistance or additional compensation than are set forth in the bill.

The bill would become effective on July 1 of the school year next following the date of enactment. However, the bill's provisions will not be deemed to impair an obligation set forth in any collective negotiations agreement or any individual contract of employment in effect on that July 1.

Requires certain conditions be met in order for school districts to provide their employees with tuition assistance for coursework or additional compensation upon acquisition of academic credits or completion of a degree program.