Bill Text: NJ A3585 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A3585 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A3585-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WILLIAM B. SAMPSON, IV
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Education shall administer a two-year Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program. The program shall award grants to school districts to help enhance school athletic programs by providing students with sports equipment and other resources to participate in sports and physical activities in schools.
2. a. A school district that wants to apply for a grant under the pilot program shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education. The application shall, at a minimum, include:
(1) relevant information to support the district's need for such a program;
(2) information concerning the availability and quality of existing athletic program equipment and resources in the district;
(3) any other information as prescribed by the commissioner.
b. The commissioner shall select six school districts for participation in the pilot program. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner shall select school districts in the southern, central, and northern regions of the State and shall seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas.
3. a. At the conclusion of the pilot program each participating school district shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Education. The report shall include, at a minimum, information on the number of students who were served by the pilot program, including the number of students in each grade level; and the school district's views on the success and benefits of the program.
b. After receiving the reports from each participating school district, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program. The report shall include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts in the State.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program. Under the program, grants will be awarded to school districts to help enhance school athletic programs by providing students with sports equipment and other related resources to participate in sports and physical activities in schools.
A school district that wants to apply for a grant under the pilot program is required to submit an application to the commissioner. The application is required to include: relevant information to support the district's need for such a program; information concerning the availability and quality of existing athletic program equipment and resources in the district; any other information as prescribed by the commissioner.
The commissioner is to select six school districts for participation in the pilot program. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner is required to select school districts in the southern, central, and northern regions of the State and is to seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas.
At the conclusion of the pilot program each participating school district is required to submit a report to the commissioner. The report is to include, at a minimum, information on the number of students who were served by the pilot program, including the number of students in each grade level; and the school district's views on the success and benefits of the program.
