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Bill > S171
NJ S171
NJ S171Establishes school district grant program in DOE to reimburse public school teachers for classroom material expenditures.
summary
Introduced
01/09/2024
01/09/2024
In Committee
01/09/2024
01/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill establishes a grant program in the Department of Education to provide annual reimbursement to public school teachers employed on a full-time basis for expenditures incurred by a teacher for classroom supplies purchased for use during the school year. The amount of the annual reimbursement per teacher would not exceed $250 per school year, unless sufficient funds remain available to reimburse those teachers who spent more than $250 for classroom supplies. Under the bill, a teacher who wants to apply for reimbursement will submit receipts for the purchase of classroom supplies in the manner prescribed by the district. In the event that all eligible teachers have received reimbursement for their expenditures in an amount equal to $250, or the actual amount of their expenditures if less than $250, any remaining grant funds will be used to reimburse teachers whose expenditures for classroom supplies for the school year exceeded $250. If any grant funds remain at the end of the school budget year, the district will hold the funds in reserve to be applied for the same purpose in the subsequent school budget year. The school district is required to report the amount of the reserve funds to the department. The bill requires that the costs borne by the State to provide the grant funds would be paid from federal funds allocated to the State under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," or any other federal funding made available to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Education to reimburse full-time public school teachers for classroom material expenditures, with an initial annual reimbursement limit of $250 per teacher. Teachers will need to submit receipts to their school district to apply for reimbursement, and if funds remain after all teachers receive up to $250 or their actual expenditure amount (whichever is less), the remaining money will be used to reimburse teachers who spent more than $250, with those amounts being prorated. Any leftover grant funds at the end of a school budget year will be held in reserve by the school district for the following year and reported to the Department of Education. The bill defines "classroom supplies" broadly to include items like books, computer equipment, and supplementary materials, but excludes non-athletic items for health or physical education classes. Importantly, the costs to the state for this program will be covered by federal funds, specifically mentioning the "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act" or other federal funding related to the coronavirus pandemic, to the extent permitted by federal law.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 01/09/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S171 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S0500/171_I1.HTM |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S0500/171_I1.HTM |
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