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Bill > S1352


NJ S1352

NJ S1352
Requires school districts to receive written permission from parent or legal guardian before administering certain student health surveys.


summary

Introduced
01/09/2024
In Committee
01/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill would require school districts to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian before administering certain health surveys to students. Under current law, a school district that sends prior written notification to a parent or legal guardian may administer an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment or evaluation to the student which reveals information concerning any of the following issues: · use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping;· sexual behavior and attitudes;· behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or· physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors. Written notification provided to a parent or legal guardian is required to be delivered by regular mail, electronic mail, or a written acknowledgement form to be delivered by the student at least two weeks prior to administration of the survey, assessment, analysis, or evaluation. Information obtained through the survey is also required to be submitted to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and may be used to develop public health initiatives and prevention programs. This bill would amend current law to require a school district to receive written permission from a parent or legal guardian, rather than providing notification, prior to administering an anonymous, voluntary survey, assessment, analysis or evaluation to a student concerning the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and vaping; sexual behavior and attitudes; behaviors that may contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries or violence; or physical activity and nutrition-related behaviors.

AI Summary

This bill requires school districts to obtain written permission from a parent or legal guardian before administering certain anonymous, voluntary student surveys or assessments that inquire about sensitive topics such as alcohol, tobacco, drug, and vaping use, sexual behavior and attitudes, behaviors related to injuries or violence, and physical activity and nutrition. Previously, school districts only needed to provide prior written notification to parents, and a lack of response was considered approval; this bill changes that requirement to active consent, meaning parents must explicitly grant permission. The bill also mandates that school districts provide a permission form with detailed information about the survey, its purpose, who will access the data, how parents can review it beforehand, and how to grant or deny permission, and clarifies that information collected can be used for public health initiatives but not for marketing.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 01/09/2024)

bill text


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