SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 699

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 25, 2020

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 699.

      This bill requires members of the panel of arbitrators maintained by the Commissioner of Education to receive training related to cultural diversity and bias.

      Under current law, the commissioner maintains a panel of 50 permanent arbitrators to hear and decide tenure charge matters.  Following the enactment of P.L.2019, c.45, each arbitrator is required to receive training on conduct unbecoming of an employee, which training is currently required to include issues related to allegations of sexual assault and child abuse. 

      Under this bill, the training on conduct unbecoming of an employee would also be required to include issues related to cultural diversity and bias.  The bill also provides that any arbitrator serving on the permanent panel as of the enactment of the bill would be required to complete the cultural diversity and bias training within 18 months of the date of enactment.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.