Bill Text: NJ A3347 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes New Jersey School Safety Specialist Academy in Department of Education and requires school districts to designate school safety specialist.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)
Status: (Passed) 2017-07-21 - Approved P.L.2017, c.162. [A3347 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A3347-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 3347
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22, 2016
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman DAVID W. WOLFE
District 10 (Ocean)
Assemblyman JAMEL C. HOLLEY
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes New Jersey School Safety Specialist Academy in Department of Education and requires school districts to designate school safety specialist.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Education Committee on March 3, 2016, with amendments.
An Act concerning school safety and supplementing chapter 17 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of Education the New Jersey School Safety Specialist Academy. It shall be the purpose of the academy to serve as a central repository for best practices, training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters regarding school safety and security, including prevention efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness planning. The academy shall: provide 1, free of charge,1 ongoing professional development on national and State best practices, as well as the most current resources on school safety and security; assume a lead role in setting the vision for school safety and security in the State; and provide a coordinated and interdisciplinary approach to providing technical assistance and guidance to schools throughout the State.
b. The academy shall develop and implement a School Safety Specialist Certification Program. A school safety specialist appointed pursuant to section 2 of this act shall be required to acquire the certification. The certification program shall provide training 1, free of charge,1 to newly-appointed school safety specialists in the areas of bullying, hazing, truancy, Internet safety, emergency planning, emergency drills, drugs, weapons, gangs and school policing, and any other areas deemed necessary by the academy. The academy shall also offer annual training sessions for certified school safety specialists. The academy shall develop training modules in both traditional and online formats.
2. The superintendent in each school district shall designate a school safety specialist for the district. The school safety specialist shall: be responsible for the supervision and oversight for all school safety and security personnel, policies, and procedures in the school district; ensure that these policies and procedures are in compliance with State law and regulations; and provide the necessary training and resources to school district staff in matters relating to school safety and security. The school safety specialist shall also serve as the school district liaison with local law enforcement and national, State, and community agencies and organizations in matters of school safety and security.
3. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after the date of enactment.