Bill > S2698

Introduced Session

This bill codifies five centers and programs at Rutgers The State University - Newark into law and directs the Legislature to appropriate $6.5 million among all five centers to be allocated accordingly:· $1,000,000 for the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America· $1,000,000 for the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME)· $1,000,000 for the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (CLSCR)· $1,000,000 for the Re-Entry Opportunity Program for Entrepreneurship in Newark (RE-OPEN)· $2,500,000 for the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP). The primary objective of the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America is to serve as a nonpartisan research center to investigate the link between race and politics in America. It aims to achieve this by functioning as a comprehensive data resource center that produces and disseminates data on race and politics across all levels of government. Additionally, the center is to facilitate various training programs in data analysis along with a paid internship program to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for careers in public service. The purpose of the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME) is to conduct collaborative public scholarship on issues of structural inequality and systemic racism. Additionally, the center provides opportunities for advanced training in areas such as data analysis, legal primers, and policy evaluation, in order to support the development of future leaders committed to social justice. The goal of the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (CLSCR) is to serve as an applied research center aimed at enhancing the resilience of New Jersey's supply chain system. The center collaborates with industry stakeholders, government agencies, and community organizations to address key issues such as supply chain disruptions, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The mission of the Re-Entry Opportunity Program for Entrepreneurship in Newark (RE-OPEN) is to support justice-impacted youth. The program engages with partner organizations to provide resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for those participating in the program. The objective of the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJSTEP) initiative is to provide higher education courses for incarcerated students and to assist in their transition to college life upon release. Additionally, NJSTEP facilitates transition support services, including academic advisement, access to financial aid, and assistance with post-release educational plans.

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Teresa Ruiz (D)*,  Britnee Timberlake (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document