Bill Text: NJ A5307 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Applies provisions of "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act" to certain incidents of gang bullying.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-23 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A5307 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5307-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Applies provisions of "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act" to certain incidents of gang bullying.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning gang bullying in public schools and supplementing P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-13 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Gang bullying" means any intentional, coordinated, or repeated pattern of harassment, intimidation, bullying, humiliation, exclusion, threats, physical acts, verbal acts, electronic communications, or social conduct carried out by two or more students against another student, where the collective conduct would reasonably be expected to cause physical harm, emotional harm, substantial disruption to the student's educational environment, or interference with the student's rights at school.
Gang bullying may include, but is not limited to, organized targeting, group harassment, coordinated social exclusion, repeated public humiliation, collective intimidation, cyberbullying conducted by multiple students, or repeated acts intended to isolate, embarrass, threaten, or emotionally distress a student.
Gang bullying shall not require that the conduct be motivated by or related to the student's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
b. The provisions of the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act," P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-13 et seq.), as amended and supplemented, shall be applicable to incidents of gang bullying that occur: (1) on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or on a school bus; and (2) off school grounds when a school employee is made aware of such actions.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill applies the provisions of the State's school bullying law, entitled the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act," to incidents of gang bullying, as that term is defined in the bill.
The bill provides that the provisions of the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act" will be applicable to incidents of gang bullying that occur: (1) on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, and (2) off school grounds when a school employee is made aware of such actions. The bill defines gang bullying.
Under current law, each school district is required to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or on a school bus. Current law requires that an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying be "reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic..." This bill establishes a definition for gang bullying that does not include a similar qualifying provision.
