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Bill > A373


NJ A373

NJ A373
Requires school safety teams to include coaches; broadens definition of "harassment, intimidation or bullying" to include hazing; requires coaches and certain advisors to complete training on anti-bullying policy.


summary

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

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill revises the definition of "harassment, intimidation or bullying" under the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act." Under that law, the term "harassment, intimidation or bullying" is defined as any gesture, action, or electronic communication that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic. This bill revises the definition to clarify that hazing constitutes harassment, intimidation or bullying under the law. This bill also requires aides and other support staff, coaches of athletic programs offered by the school district, and advisors of extracurricular activities and programs offered by the school district to receive training on the school district's harassment, intimidation, or bullying policy. Additionally, this bill requires the school safety team at each school include at least one coach of an athletic program offered at the school, if applicable. This bill's provisions implement certain recommendations of the report from the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force, dated December 28, 2023.

AI Summary

This bill expands the definition of "harassment, intimidation or bullying" under the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act to explicitly include hazing, which is defined as any act of initiation or other mistreatment of a student, often in a group setting, that causes or is likely to cause harm or distress. It also mandates that school employees, including aides, support staff, coaches of athletic programs, and advisors of extracurricular activities, receive training on the school district's anti-bullying policy. Furthermore, the bill requires that each school's safety team, which is responsible for addressing school climate issues and preventing bullying, must include at least one coach of an athletic program offered by the school, if applicable. These changes are intended to implement recommendations from the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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