ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1588

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 23, 2023

     The Assembly Higher Education Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 1588 (1R).

     This bill permits graduating students to use preferred names on diplomas conferred by public and nonpublic schools, institutions of higher education, and proprietary institutions licensed to offer academic degrees.  Graduating students would not be required to provide legal documentation sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change in order to use a preferred name. Schools and institutions have the right to deny a preferred name request if the preferred name is intended to misrepresent the person’s identity or misappropriate the identity of another person, avoid a legal obligation, harm the reputation or interests of the school or institution, or be derogatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

     Schools and institutions would also be required to update a former student’s records provided that the former student provides sufficient documentation demonstrating a legal name or gender change.  Acceptable documents include a state-issued driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, social security card, or court order indicating a legal name or gender change, or both.  Upon receipt of proper documentation sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change, a school or institution is required to reissue any documents conferred upon the former student with the former student’s updated legal name or gender upon request.  Documents that could be reissued include, but are not limited to, a transcript or diploma conferred by the school or institution.  Schools and institutions would be permitted to charge a nominal fee for the reissuance of any document requested by a former student pursuant to this bill.