SENATE, No. 2711

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED JUNE 14, 2018

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Senator  FRED H. MADDEN, JR.

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

SYNOPSIS

     Mandates child abuse and sexual abuse training for all candidates for teaching certification.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

An Act concerning certain training for prospective teachers and supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

     1.    a.  Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, all candidates for teaching certification who have completed a teacher preparation program at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education shall have satisfactorily completed a program on the recognition of, and the requirement to report, child abuse including sexual abuse.

     b.    Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, any person seeking certification through the alternate route shall, within one year of being employed, satisfactorily complete a program on the recognition of, and the requirement to report, child abuse including sexual abuse.

     c.     The State Board of Education shall establish the appropriate requirements of the program on the recognition and reporting of child abuse required pursuant to this section.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

     This bill requires that all candidates for teaching certification receive training on the recognition of, and the requirement to report, child abuse including sexual abuse.  Under the bill, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, all candidates for teaching certification who have completed a teacher preparation program at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education must have satisfactorily completed a program on the recognition of, and the requirement to report, child abuse including sexual abuse.  Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, any person seeking certification through the alternate route must complete the program within one year of being employed.  The State Board of Education will establish the appropriate requirements of the program.