Bill
Bill > A4204
NJ A4204
NJ A4204Establishes pilot program in DOE to use therapy dogs in public elementary school wellness programs.
summary
Introduced
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill establishes a three-year pilot program to assess the academic and health benefits associated with the use of therapy dogs in public elementary school wellness programs. A therapy dog is a dog that has been trained, evaluated, and registered with a handler to provide animal assisted therapy and other animal assisted activities within a school or other facility. Some research suggests that the use of therapy dogs in schools is associated with improvements in school attendance, confidence, motivation, and reading and writing skills. Under the bill, a school district that wants to participate in the pilot program is required to submit an application to the commissioner. The application is required to include, but need not be limited to: the number of elementary schools in the school district; the number of students enrolled in each elementary school; information on student participation in wellness programs at each elementary school; and information on how the school district plans to use therapy dogs to promote student wellness. The commissioner will select two districts in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State to participate in the program and will seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. The commission will provide pilot districts with guidance regarding the use of therapy dogs in schools including: examples of activities that students may engage in with a therapy dog; recommended training requirements for therapy dog handlers; recommended measures to evaluate the health and appropriate behavior of therapy dogs; and insurance issues relevant to having therapy dogs on school district property. No later than June 30 of the third school year following the establishment of the pilot program, the commissioner will submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report that evaluates the effectiveness of the pilot program in improving the academic performance and health outcomes of students in elementary schools.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a three-year pilot program within the Department of Education (DOE) to explore the potential academic and health advantages of incorporating therapy dogs into public elementary school wellness programs, where a therapy dog is a trained and registered animal accompanied by a handler, intended to provide animal-assisted therapy and activities. School districts interested in participating must apply to the Commissioner of Education, detailing their elementary schools, student enrollment, current wellness program participation, and their specific plans for using therapy dogs to enhance student well-being. The Commissioner will then select six participating districts, two from each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the state, ensuring a diverse representation of urban, suburban, and rural school districts. The DOE will offer guidance to these pilot districts on various aspects, including appropriate student-dog activities, handler training standards, methods for assessing therapy dog health and behavior, and insurance considerations for having these animals on school grounds. Finally, by June 30th of the third year of the program, the Commissioner is required to submit a comprehensive report to the Governor and Legislature evaluating the pilot program's success in improving elementary students' academic performance and overall health.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 02/19/2026)
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/2026/A4204 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A4500/4204_I1.HTM |
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