School boards will be dealing with fewer bureaucratic requirements this budget season as a result of the recent enactment of Assembly Bill 17.

The legislation resulted from the work of the Education Mandate Review Study Commission, created in 2003 by former Gov. James McGreevey. The panel recommended a variety of methods to reduce bureaucracy and streamline school operations. Representatives of NJSBA and other education groups served on the commission.

Duplicative Practices A-17 streamlines certain business operations, eliminates duplicative state reporting requirements and removes statutorily required observance of certain holidays. For example, the new law lifts the requirement that school boards transcribe their annual public hearings on violence and vandalism. It also eliminates certain reports that schools file about purchase orders.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine conditionally vetoed the bill after veterans organizations expressed their concerns that schools would no longer hold ceremonies in honor of Veterans Day and Memorial Day. The amended bill returns those two holidays—as well as Columbus Day, Commodore Barry Day and President’s Day—to the list of days that must be recognized by all school districts.