SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1284

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1284.

     This bill establishes the County-Based School Security Pilot Program in the Department of Education.

     The County-Based School Security Pilot Program is to establish county-based mental health services for public school students and provide security infrastructure to certain public schools in Essex, Mercer, and Camden counties for three years.

     This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to work in collaboration with the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families, and the Director of the State Office of Emergency Management in the Department of Law and Public Safety to implement the pilot program. The pilot program established under the bill is to include a county-based mental health program available to students residing in a pilot county and attending a public school. The mental health program is to incorporate individual and group clinical mental health services; referrals to community-based mental health care providers; evidence-based interventions; mental health screenings; and crisis intervention. The pilot program is to also provide additional security supports for school districts within a pilot county including expanded access to training for active shooter scenarios; bullet-resident mobile ballistic shields; and other protective equipment as deemed necessary by the commissioner.

     The bill requires the commissioner to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature within one year after the implementation of the pilot program and annually thereafter for a total of three years. Additionally, this bill appropriates $15 million from the General Fund to the department.

      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.