Bill Text: NJ S4396 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Modifies certain provisions of law concerning speech-language specialists.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee [S4396 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4396-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Modifies certain provisions of law concerning speech-language specialists.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning speech language services and amending various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1982, c.162 (C.18A:46-5.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. Each board of education and State operated program shall separately or jointly with one or more boards of education or State agencies provide for basic child study team services. The basic child study team shall consist of a school psychologist, a learning disability teacher consultant and a school social worker, and for the purposes of evaluation and classification shall include pertinent information from certified school personnel making the referral. This information shall be considered in the evaluation and classification process as defined in [N.J.A.C. 6:28-1.1 et seq] State Board of Education regulations concerning special education.
In addition to the members required pursuant to this section, the basic child study team shall also include a speech-language specialist when a student has a classification of preschool child with a disability, communication impairment, or eligible for speech-language services.
The referring certified school personnel and the school principal, or [his] a designee, may attend the classification conference as defined in [N.J.A.C. 6:28-1.1 et seq.] State board regulations concerning special education and participate in the classification decision.
(cf: P.L.1982, c.162, s.1)
2. N.J.S.18A:46-8 is amended to read as follows:
18A:46-8. Each board of education shall provide for the examination and classification of each child residing in the district and identified pursuant to N.J.S.18A:46-6, except that the board of education of a county vocational school district shall provide for the examination and classification of each child who is attending the county vocational school on a full-time basis and is identified pursuant to N.J.S.18A:46-6. [Such] The examination and classification shall be accomplished according to procedures prescribed by the commissioner and approved by the State board, under one of the categories identified in N.J.S.18A:46-1. The examination and classification of [such] nonpublic school children shall be in a location determined by the local board of education of the district in which the nonpublic school is located and approved by the commissioner pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the State board.
The classification of a child with a communication impairment shall be made by the basic child study team and an approved [speech correctionist] speech-language specialist or [speech] speech-language pathologist, [without] with child study consultation. Such children shall be reported to the basic child study team. The proposed classification shall be reported to the parent or guardian of the child at a meeting to determine eligibility and an opportunity provided, prior to implementation of the classification, for consultation by [such] the parent or guardian with the appropriate special educational services personnel of the district. Pursuant to rules of the State board, the parent or guardian shall also be provided an opportunity for further review of the classification in the Department of Education.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.131, s.45)
3. Section 9 of P.L.1977, c.193 (C.18A:46-19.7) is amended to read as follows:
9. A board of education may contract with an educational improvement center, an educational services commission or other public or private agency approved by the commissioner other than a church or sectarian school, for the provision of examination, classification and [speech correction] speech-language services required by [this act] P.L.1977, c.193 (C.18A:46-19.1 et al.). Prior to any change in the provision of these services, the board shall provide timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate nonpublic school representatives, including parents.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, a board of education may only contract with a private agency or clinic approved by the Department of Education for the provision of speech-language services to supplement existing district staff for temporary vacancies when the board is unable to hire sufficient staff to provide speech-language services.
(cf: P.L.1999, c.364, s.1)
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill modifies certain provisions of law concerning special education and related services in connection with speech-language services.
This bill removes statutory references to speech correctionist and replaces those references with speech-language specialist or speech-language pathologist. The bill also replaces reference to certain expired State Board of Education regulations concerning special education with general references to State board regulations concerning special education.
Under current law, the classification of a child with a communication impairment is required to be made by the basic child study team and an approved speech-language specialist or speech-language pathologist, without child study consultation. This bill requires child study team consultation for the classification of these students. The bill also requires a basic child study team to include a speech-language specialist for students with a classification of preschool child with a disability, communication impairment, or eligible for speech-language services.
Finally, the bill amends current law to permit a board of education to contract with a private agency or clinic approved by the Department of Education for speech-language services to supplement existing district staff for a temporary vacancy only when a school is unable to hire sufficient staff to provide these services.
