Bill > A4879

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to take certain actions prior to withholding nonpublic school State aid for a nonpublic school's failure to meet certain health and safety requirements. The bill requires that, in the event the commissioner determines that a nonpublic school has failed to comply with or attest to compliance with the health and safety requirements of nonpublic school facilities, the commissioner is to first provide written notice to the nonpublic school. Upon receipt of the written notice, the nonpublic school has 60 days to take corrective action, as determined by the commissioner, to meet the health and safety requirements. The bill permits the commissioner to grant an extension of up to 30 days upon written request from the nonpublic school. If the nonpublic school does not comply with or attest to compliance with the health and safety requirements within this time period, the bill requires the nonpublic school, in cooperation with the Department of Education, to develop an improvement plan to address the applicable health and safety requirements. The improvement plan is subject to the approval of the commissioner. The commissioner is to review the plan within 60 days of its receipt. Upon approval, the commissioner is to provide the nonpublic school with any technical assistance outlined in the plan. The bill stipulates that a nonpublic school is to have one year from the approval of the school's improvement plan to comply with or attest to compliance with the health and safety requirements. A nonpublic school that does not submit a required improvement plan may be subject to the withholding of nonpublic school aid. If, following the time provided to take corrective action and the establishment of the improvement plan, the nonpublic school does not comply with or attest to compliance with the applicable health and safety requirements, the bill permits the commissioner to take one or both of the following actions: (1) order the nonpublic school to show cause why the commissioner should not withhold nonpublic school aid from the school; or (2) direct the State Treasurer to withhold nonpublic school aid from the school. The provisions of the bill are not to be construed to prohibit a municipality, a municipal code enforcement agency, or the State from taking actions permitted by law, except for the withholding of nonpublic school aid, if a nonpublic school fails to meet the applicable health and safety requirements. The bill also stipulates that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to waive the health and safety requirements of nonpublic school facilities.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Gary Schaer (D)*,  Alexander Schnall (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 10/17/2024)

Official Document