Bill > A895

This bill establishes provisions for the use of applicant and student criminal history at institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions in New Jersey. The key provisions are: 1. Applications for admission cannot ask about an applicant's criminal history, except for a limited set of serious crimes specified in the bill. Institutions can only deny admission based on those specified convictions and must consider factors like the time passed, the applicant's age, and evidence of rehabilitation. 2. If an applicant is admitted, the institution can make inquiries about the applicant's criminal history for the purposes of offering supportive counseling services and making decisions about the student's participation in campus life, considering factors like the nature of the offense and the student's rehabilitation. 3. Institutions cannot deny continuation in academic programs that prepare students for careers requiring occupational licenses or teaching certificates solely based on criminal history, but must offer counseling to assist the student. 4. The bill applies to the first full academic year after its enactment.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A895