SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, Nos. 2861 and 3081

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

ADOPTED MARCH 4, 2019

Sponsored by:

Senator  KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)

Senator  RICHARD J. CODEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

Senator  JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman  GARY S. SCHAER

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  JOHN F. MCKEON

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

Assemblywoman  JOANN DOWNEY

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblyman  RAJ MUKHERJI

District 33 (Hudson)

Assemblyman  DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Ruiz, Gopal, Assemblyman Giblin, Assemblywomen Murphy, Vainieri Huttle, Assemblymen Verrelli, S.Kean, Karabinchak, Assemblywomen Sumter, Lampitt and Pinkin

SYNOPSIS

     Requires health curriculum for public school students in grades kindergarten through 12 to include instruction on mental health.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Substitute as adopted by the Senate Education Committee.

An Act concerning the health education curriculum in public schools and supplementing chapter 35 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.  A school district shall ensure that its health education programs for students in grades kindergarten through 12 recognize the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health and the relation of physical and mental health so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors that promote health, well-being, and human dignity.  The instruction in mental health shall be adapted to the age and understanding of the students and shall be incorporated as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.  The instruction shall include, as appropriate, information on substance abuse provided pursuant to the implementation of these standards and to section 1 of P.L.2016, c.46 (C.18A:40A-2.1).

     b.    The State Board of Education shall review and update the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education to ensure the incorporation of instruction in mental health in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through 12.  In its review, the State board shall consult with mental health experts including, but not limited to, representatives from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the 2020-2021 school year.