SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1997

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 5, 2025

      The Senate Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1997.

      As amended, this bill directs the Department of Education (DOE) to partner with a nonprofit organization to establish and maintain a central, searchable registry of individuals and organizations interested in offering free tutoring services to students throughout the State.  The registry is to contain the name, contact information, subject matter expertise, and a tutoring availability schedule of each registrant.  The DOE is required by the bill to make the registry publicly available to all New Jersey residents on its Internet website.

      Under the amended bill, the following individuals and organizations may apply to the nonprofit organization for inclusion on the central registry: (1) a teacher who holds a New Jersey provisional or standard instructional certificate; (2) a retired New Jersey teacher who was in good standing at the time of retirement; (3) a student enrolled in a two- or four-year institution of higher education in the State; (4) an industry professional with relevant subject matter expertise; (5) an organization with relevant subject matter expertise; and (6) any other person or organization the department deems appropriate.  Registrants may not charge or receive any fee for services provided in connection with the registry. 

      Under the amended bill, an individual applying for inclusion on the registry, except a teacher who holds a New Jersey provisional or standard instructional certification who has undergone a prior criminal history record check as required by law, is required to undergo a criminal history record check prior to inclusion on the registry. An organization applying for inclusion on the registry is required to submit a statement of assurances to the DOE affirming that an individual providing tutoring services on behalf of, or as a representative of the organization, has undergone a criminal history record check. The DOE may reimburse an individual for the cost of the criminal history record check.

      The registry is to include a disclaimer stating that the information provided on individuals and organizations listed on the registry has not been independently verified and is not meant to be an endorsement or recommendation by the department as to the quality of the tutoring services offered.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 2867, which the committee also amended and reported on this same date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to require the Department of Education to partner with a nonprofit organization to establish and oversee the registry required by the bill. The amendments also remove the requirement in the bill that an organization willfully providing false information is not to be fined more than $500.