Bill > A2139

Introduced Session

This bill provides for the merger of New Jersey City University with Kean University and expands the powers and property of Kean University. The bill appropriates $25 million to Kean University. The bill authorizes Kean University to merge with New Jersey City University subject to the completion of the requirements contained in the October 1, 2025 agreement executed between the two institutions of higher education and upon notification by the President of Kean University to the Secretary of Higher Education of satisfaction of certain conditions within the agreement. The bill further provides that:· all of the functions, powers, duties, and rights of New Jersey City University are to be transferred and assigned to Kean University; · all of New Jersey City University's rights, title, and interest in its colleges, schools, institutes, and centers, its auxiliary and supporting institutions and the campuses located in Jersey City, New Jersey are to be transferred to Kean University; and · all references to New Jersey City University in any law, rule, regulation, order, contract, document, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise are to mean Kean University. The bill provides that any New Jersey City University property owned by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority and transferred to Kean University is to be in accordance with certain State law. The bill nullifies any restrictions contained in any deed on any unimproved real property acquired by Kean University from New Jersey City University pursuant to the merger. The bill clarifies that certain provisions in the bill relating to property are to be effectuated immediately upon the closing of the acquisition of New Jersey City University by Kean University and will require no additional action on the part of Kean University. The bill directs all State governmental entities to take all necessary steps to effectuate this merger in transferring all of New Jersey City University's interests to Kean University. The bill further provides that Kean University is to receive:· all appropriations, grants, research funds, and other moneys available and to become available to New Jersey City University; and· all files, books, papers, records, equipment, and other property of New Jersey City University. The bill provides that Kean University is to receive the full number of State-funded positions at New Jersey City University in fiscal year 2026. The bill also includes a commitment from the State to assist Kean University in its efforts to reduce, through defeasance or other financial means, the debt of New Jersey City University held by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The bill includes language providing the level at which students receiving Tuition Aid Grants are to be supported. Under the bill, all orders, rules, and regulations of New Jersey City University are to be deemed null and void, unless continued by Kean University. The bill provides that Kean University is to represent New Jersey City University in any civil or criminal actions or proceedings. The bill includes various provisions pertaining to the employees of New Jersey City University, who are to be considered new employees of Kean University. Under the bill, these employees are to:· retain certain rights with respect to State benefits and any tenure rights or academic rank acquired at New Jersey City University;· be subject to the employment policies of Kean University;· be transferred to the appropriate collective negotiations units at Kean University; and · maintain their Civil Service classification status, if appropriate.The bill provides that upon employment with Kean University, former New Jersey City University employees holding a faculty position will not retain seniority acquired while employed by New Jersey City University. Employees holding a faculty position who acquired tenure with New Jersey City University are to be hired by Kean University with tenure. Former employees of New Jersey City University holding a faculty position who are hired with tenure by Kean University are to maintain their academic rank and are not to be counted toward any cap established on the total number of new full-time tenure-track faculty members hired at the institution. The bill provides that the merger of New Jersey City University and Kean University will not require any further approval from any officer, commission, agency, or authority of the State. Under the bill, Kean University will have the care, custody, control, and title of any property the institution acquires as part of a merger or consolidation with another nonprofit corporation formed and operated primarily for educational purposes or with a public institution of higher education, subject to the visitorial powers of the Secretary of Higher Education at the request of the Governor and the conveyance terms for any property owned by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority. The bill revises existing law to provide that the Kean University board of trustees is to elect its chairperson annually in September, rather than July. The bill provides that a student representative on the Kean University board of trustees is to be elected through a vote of the student body, rather than a vote of the student government association, and revises how vacancies in these positions are to be filled. The bill makes numerous changes, clarifications, and additions to the powers and duties of the board of trustees of Kean University, including the power or duty to:· merge or consolidate with another nonprofit corporation formed and operated primarily for educational purposes, or with another public institution of higher education and to assume all vested rights, grants, charter rights, privileges, exemptions, immunities, powers, prerogatives, franchises or advantages, debts, or liabilities of the institution being acquired;· modify its corporate seal;· approve the establishment or discontinuance of educational programs, departments, or schools;· enter into contracts and agreements with other public institutions of higher education and their subsidiaries and affiliates; · merge or consolidate, including through or with subsidiary corporations created by the university, with one or more other nonprofit corporations; and· authorize any other new program, educational department, or school. The bill further:· provides that any public employees of the university who may be assigned to support any joint venture, subsidiary corporation, partnership, or other jural entity of the university will continue to be deemed public employees;· provides that the university may elect to not be represented by the Attorney General in any matter in which the university is solely responsible for any potential liability; · removes a requirement that the university carry its own liability insurance; · provides that mergers or consolidations with subsidiary corporations created by the university after the bill's effective date will not require the approval of the Office of the Attorney General;· authorizes Kean University to be a participating contracting unit in a joint purchasing agreement;· removes a requirement that notice be posted prior to a meeting of any committees of the Kean University board of trustees on the university's website;· removes a requirement that the minutes of meetings of any committees of Kean University's board of trustees be posted on the university's website;· extends the law protecting any trustee or officer of Kean University from personal liability for any debt, obligation, or liability of the university to any debt, obligation, or liability incurred by or on behalf of a university subsidiary or affiliate; and· maintains the current structure for the Statewide collective negotiations units at Kean University, and clarifies that any person who becomes an employee of Kean University or a subsidiary corporation of the university through a merger or consolidation with another entity, is to be deemed a public employee, become a member of the Statewide collective negotiations unit which encompasses the employee's position as applicable, and be represented by the majority representatives of that unit. The bill repeals the law establishing the Henry John Raimondo Chair in Urban Public Policy Research at New Jersey City University. The bill amends the section of law on the powers and duties of the boards of trustees of State colleges to provide them the ability to retain independent counsel including representation by the Attorney General and, if the State college elects not to be represented by the Attorney General in any matter in which the university is solely responsible for any potential liability, it is permitted to do so upon notice to the Attorney General.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Linda Carter (D)*, 

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.218. (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document