Bill Text: NJ S1042 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides that expression of a political view or of a personal opinion on a school district budget by school board member does not constitute action that may form the basis of a school ethics complaint.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-30 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S1042 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S1042-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH PENNACCHIO
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Provides that expression of a political view or of a personal opinion on a school district budget by school board member does not constitute action that may form the basis of a school ethics complaint.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning standards for the ethical conduct of school board members and supplementing chapter 12 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, an expression of a political view or of a personal opinion on a school district budget made by a school board member shall not constitute a violation of section 4 of P.L.1991, c.393 (C.18A:12-24) or section 5 of P.L.2001, c.178 (C.18A:12-24.1) and may not form the basis of a complaint filed with the School Ethics Commission pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1991, c.393 (C.18A:12-29).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that the expression of a political view or of a personal opinion on a school district budget made by a school board member: 1) would not constitute a violation of section 4 of P.L.1991, c.393 (C.18A:12-24), which sets forth prohibited conduct for school officials, or the Code of Ethics for School Board Members; and 2) may not form the basis of a complaint filed with the School Ethics Commission.
In a number of School Ethics Commission cases, complaints have been filed against school board members for conduct which constitutes an exercise of the First Amendment constitutional right to engage in political activity. Complaints have also been filed when members have expressed a personal opinion on a school district's budget. This bill would prevent these types of complaints from being filed.
