ASSEMBLY SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, Nos. 2498 and 2505

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 23, 2025

      The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee reports favorably the Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill Nos. 2498 and 2505.

      As reported, this bill requires the Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain an educator common application and web portal.  The web portal is to allow candidates who have been issued a certificate necessary to seek employment in a public school, including a substitute teacher credential, to submit a single common application to apply for employment at the public schools of the State.

      The common application and web portal are to: (1) maximize the ability of educators to connect with public schools that have employment openings; (2) increase the degree of information sharing regarding employment opportunities for educators; and (3) maintain high standards for data privacy and security.

      The bill authorizes the commissioner to contract with a private vendor to establish and maintain the portal.  The commissioner may also reconstruct an existing Internet website or web portal operated by the Department of Education.

      The bill also provides that nothing in the bill is to prevent a school district or public school employer from using its own application process or web portal or from requiring additional materials from applicants who apply for employment using the common application and web portal.

      As reported by the committee, the Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill Nos. 2498 and 2505 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 3864 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.