Bill
Bill > S4186
NJ S4186
NJ S4186Requires school districts to maintain and pay premiums for student accident insurance.
summary
Introduced
03/03/2025
03/03/2025
In Committee
03/03/2025
03/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, a school district may arrange for and maintain accident insurance to provide for payments to pupils for bodily injury sustained by the pupil as a result of participation in sports programs or regular curricular or extracurricular programs. Also under existing law, a school district may pay the premiums for that coverage or may require that each pupil's parent or guardian pay a proportionate share of the premium. These accident insurance policies are usually secondary insurance in that they cover the medical costs that are not completely covered by the insurance held by the pupil's parent or guardian. This bill will require school districts to maintain and pay the premiums for accident insurance to cover the costs of bodily injury sustained by pupils participating in an interscholastic athletics program or intramural sports program or sustained while participating in any other extracurricular program or regular curricular program. The bill repeals N.J.S.18A:43-2 which allows a school district to require that a pupil's parent or guardian pay a proportionate share of the premium of accident insurance maintained by the school district. Pupils who participate in interscholastic athletics programs, intramural sports programs, and other extracurricular programs or regular curricular programs are exposed to the risk to bodily injury, and school districts have a responsibility to provide adequate insurance protection for their pupils in the event of an injury.
AI Summary
This bill requires New Jersey school districts to mandatorily maintain and pay for student accident insurance, shifting from a previous optional approach. Specifically, the bill changes existing law to require school boards to arrange and fully fund accident insurance policies that cover students during interscholastic athletics, intramural sports, extracurricular programs, and regular curricular activities, including transportation to and from these programs. The legislation removes previous provisions that allowed school districts to charge parents a proportionate share of insurance premiums and repeals a statute (N.J.S.18A:43-2) that permitted cost-sharing. While the bill mandates insurance coverage, it simultaneously clarifies that school boards are not liable for injuries sustained during these programs. The changes will take effect immediately and apply to the first full school year following enactment, ensuring that students are comprehensively insured against potential bodily injuries during school-related activities without additional cost to their families.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 03/03/2025)
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/S4186 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S4500/4186_I1.HTM |
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