Bill > A5431

Introduced Session

This bill establishes an Anti-Bullying Youth Council for the purpose of providing a forum for the youth of this State to advise the Anti-Bullying Task Force on the unique perspectives, experiences, and needs of youth related to bullying in the public and nonpublic schools. The council is to research, analyze, discuss, and make specific recommendations to the task force on ways to prevent and respond to bulling in the schools. The bill provides that the council will consist of 25 members, including: (1) four members of the New Jersey Legislature, who will serve as nonvoting members, and who will include one member appointed by the President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and (2) 21 public members, of whom one is to be appointed by each executive county superintendent of schools. The public members are to be students enrolled in public and nonpublic middle and high schools in the State. The bill provides that legislative members will serve on the council in an advisory capacity and will be appointed solely for the purpose of assisting the public members of the council in coordinating its meeting and activities, and in fulfilling the council's purpose. All appointments to the council are to be made within 30 days of the bill's effective date. Under the bill, the council is required to organize as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days following the appointment of its members. The bill directs the council to submit, in writing, a series of policy recommendations to the Anti-Bullying Task Force. The council may present the recommendations to the task force at a public hearing of the task force. The series of policy recommendations are to made available online to the public. Finally, the bill requires the council to prepare and submit an annual report containing its findings, activities, and recommendations, including any recommendations for administrative and legislative action that it deems appropriate, to the Governor and the Legislature. The council will expire upon the expiration of the Anti-Bullying Task Force.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Angela Mcknight (D)*,  Anthony Verrelli (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 05/11/2023)

Official Document