NJSBA develops, communicates and advocates the perspective of local boards of education before the state Legislature, the State Board of Education, the Governor’s office, Congress, and other state and federal agencies.

As the State Legislature moves into the last quarter of the 2012-2013 session, the Governmental Relations Department is tracking more than 1,300 legislative proposals in several different areas including accountability, curricula, facilities, funding and labor issues.

Following are ten key bills on our tracking list;  check back periodically as we provide updates and links to position statements and testimony:

Support

Bill: ACR117

Sponsor: Conaway (D7)

Summary: Proposes an amendment to the Constitution requiring the State to pay the costs of special education.

Bill: S1418

Sponsor: Gill (D34); Weinberg (D37)

Summary: Provides the local board of education with approval authority of charter school application.

Bill: A1989/S1302

Sponsor: McKeon, Jasey (D27)/Kean (R21)

Summary: Permits high performing school districts to be monitored by the DOE under the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJ QSAC) every seven years rather than every three years.

Bill: S2724

Sponsor: Norcross (D5)

Summary: This bill establishes an 11-member School Security Task Force to study and develop recommendations for improving school security and safety, and ensuring a safe learning environment for students and school employees.

Bill: A3738/S2486

Sponsor: Lampitt (D6); Beach(D6)

Summary: This bill provides that any annual increase in expenditures on school security costs in excess of two percent incurred by school districts will be excluded from the applicable tax levy and appropriation cap.  

Seek Amendment or Oppose

Bill: A1379

Sponsor: Chivukula (D17)

Summary: This bill provides for establishment, through voter approval, of county administrative school districts that would take over the governance and operation of the public schools in the county. In such cases, the schools would be governed by a board of education of the county administrative school district and administered by a county chief school administrator. Local boards of education in the county, including the vocational school district and county special services school district boards, if any, would cede authority to the county board, though they would continue to exist in an advisory capacity.

Bill: A210

Sponsor: DeAngelo (D14)

Summary: This bill prohibits a school district employer from entering into a subcontracting agreement which may affect the employment of any employees in a collective bargaining unit under any circumstances during the term of an existing collective bargaining agreement covering the employees. The bill also prohibits an employer from entering into a subcontracting agreement which affects the employment of any employee who performs work similar to that performed by skilled craftsmen from building trades including, but not limited to, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technicians. The bill defines "employer" to include any local or regional school district, educational services commission, jointure commission, county special services school district, or board or commission under the authority of the Commissioner of Education or the State Board of Education.

Bill: A3696/S2163

Sponsor: Mosqurea (D4), Wagner (D38)

Summary:  This bill provides to non-teaching employees of local, county or regional school districts, boards or commissions the right to submit to binding arbitration any dispute regarding whether there is just cause for a disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, reprimands, withholding of increments, termination, non-renewal, expiration or lapse of an employment contract or term, or lack of continuation of employment, irrespective of the reason for the employer's action or failure to act, and irrespective of any contractual or negotiated provision or lack thereof.  The bill places the burden of proof in the arbitration on the employer.

Bill: S1779

Sponsor: Kean (D21)

Summary: Establishes “Opportunity Scholarship Act” pilot program in Department of Treasury providing tax credits to taxpayers contributing to scholarships for low-income children

Bill: S338

Sponsor: Greenstein (D14)

Summary: The bill specifies that mandatory subjects for collective bargaining include every matter regarding the terms and conditions of employment of public employees which is not expressly exempted from collective bargaining by State statute.