ASSEMBLY, No. 4407

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  PAMELA R. LAMPITT

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Assemblyman  JOHN ARMATO

District 2 (Atlantic)

Assemblywoman  PATRICIA EGAN JONES

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Mazzeo, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblymen Peters, Howarth and Assemblywoman Pintor Marin

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DOE to collect information on certain teacher misconduct and report to Legislature.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning school employees and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and P.L.2018, c.5 (C.18A:6-7.6 et seq.). 

 

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

 

     1.    a.   The Commissioner of Education shall annually collect data from each school district on the number of school employees who were disciplined, discharged, nonrenewed, asked to resign from employment, resigned from or otherwise separated from any employment while allegations of child abuse, sexual misconduct, or sexual or other harassment were pending or under investigation, or due to an adjudication or  finding of child abuse, sexual misconduct, or sexual or other harassment.

     b.    The commissioner shall annually submit a summary report to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) on the data collected pursuant to subsection a. of this section.  The report shall include data broken down by each school district, in addition to Statewide data.  It shall be a violation to improperly release any confidential information not authorized by federal or State law for public release.

 

     2.    The Commissioner of Education shall annually submit a report on the implementation of P.L.2018, c.5 (C.18A:6-7.6 et seq.) to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to annually collect data from each school district on the number of school employees who were disciplined, discharged, nonrenewed, asked to resign from employment, resigned from or otherwise separated from any employment while allegations of child abuse, sexual misconduct, or sexual or other harassment were pending or under investigation, or due to an adjudication or finding of child abuse, sexual misconduct, or sexual or other harassment.

     The bill also requires the commissioner to annually submit a summary report to the Legislature on the data collected pursuant to the bill’s provisions.  The report must include data broken down by each school district, in addition to Statewide data.  The bill provides that it would be a violation to improperly release any confidential information not authorized by federal or State law for public release.

     Finally, the bill requires the commissioner to annually submit a report to the Legislature on the implementation of the reporting and other requirements of the recently enacted P.L.2018, c.5 (C.18A:6-7.6 et seq.).  This law requires school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and contracted service providers to review the employment history of prospective employees who will have regular contact with students to ascertain allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct.