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Bill > S3043


NJ S3043

NJ S3043
Directs Commissioner of Education to develop sensitivity training program for high school athletic directors, coaches, and sports officials of interscholastic athletic sports programs.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop an interscholastic sports sensitivity training program for high school athletic directors, coaches, and sports officials. The training program is required to provide information on topics including, but not limited to:· gender and sexual orientation;· race and ethnicity;· disabilities;· religious tolerance;· unconscious bias; and· diversity and inclusion. In the development of the program, the commissioner will consult with the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill also directs the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to require each person who coaches a public school district or nonpublic school interscholastic high school sport, and an athletic director who oversees a public school district or nonpublic school interscholastic high school sports program, to complete the training program every four years. Under the bill, each newly appointed coach or athletic director must initially complete the training program during his first year in that position. Finally, the bill provides that when an individual applies to a sports officials' chapter or association, the individual must certify that he has completed the training program. An active sports official must complete the training program every four years.

AI Summary

This bill mandates that the Commissioner of Education create a sensitivity training program for high school athletic directors, coaches, and sports officials involved in interscholastic sports, which are organized sports competitions between schools. This program will cover crucial topics such as gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, disabilities, religious tolerance, unconscious bias (prejudiced thoughts or feelings that influence our understanding, actions, and decisions without our awareness), and diversity and inclusion. To develop this training, the Commissioner will collaborate with the Division on Civil Rights, a state agency that works to prevent discrimination. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body for high school sports in the state, will then be required to ensure that all coaches and athletic directors complete this training every four years, with new hires needing to finish it within their first year. Additionally, individuals applying to be sports officials must certify they have completed the training, and active officials will also need to retake it every four years.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

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

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