SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, No. 1995

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 14, 2021

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 1995.

      As amended by the committee, this bill would require that international student exchange visitor placement organizations register with the Commissioner of Education.  An international student exchange visitor placement organization is defined as an entity that regularly arranges the placement of international student exchange visitors for the purpose of allowing the student an opportunity to attend school in the United States.  Under the bill, an international student is a person 18 years of age or under, or up to 21 years of age if enrolled in high school, placed by an international student exchange visitor placement organization, who enters the United States with a nonimmigrant visa.  These organizations are overseen at the federal level by the United States Department of State.

      Under the bill, to be eligible for registration, an international student exchange visitor placement organization must:

      (1)  be in compliance with United States Department of State regulations on exchange visitor programs at 22 C.F.R. s.62.1 through 62.17, and at 22 C.F.R. 62.25, or be certified by the Council of Standards for International Educational Travel and be listed on the council’s Advisory List of International Educational Travel and Exchange Programs; and

      (2)  present to the commissioner current credentials from the United States Department of State or the Council of Standards for International Educational Travel that attest to such compliance.

      The Commissioner of Education would annually create a list of all registered international student exchange visitor placement organizations and distribute the list to all school districts.

      As amended, Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 1995 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 3149 (1R) of the 2020-2021 session.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

The amendments replace references to the Secretary of State with Commissioner of Education.