ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3340

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 4, 2024

      The Assembly Education committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 3340 with committee amendments.

      As amended, this bill allows an advanced practice nurse and a physician assistant to provide the required written determination documenting a student’s need for confinement at the student’s residence or other treatment setting in order for a school district to provide home instruction due to the student’s temporary or chronic health condition or need for treatment. Under State Board of Education regulations, this documentation may only be provided by the student’s physician.  As amended, the bill’s provisions are in addition to any other State Board of Education requirements in regard to a student’s receipt of home instruction from the school district.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

· specify that written determination from a physician assistant be accepted as documentation of a student’s need for home instruction; and

· reduce the minimum number of cumulative school days, for which a written determination for the need for home instruction is required, from 20 days to 15 days.