SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3961

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 30, 2025

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 3961 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill requires public and nonpublic schools to offer a no-fee option to parents and guardians for making school lunch and other types of payments.  The amended bill also requires any payment processing platform used by a school to provide users with certain information on user fees. 

      Under the bill, any contract entered into on or after the bill’s effective date by a board of education, board of trustees, or a nonpublic school with a third party vendor for the development or use of a payment processing platform is to require the payment processing platform to provide users with clear information on:

· all fees charged for use of the platform;

· the average annual fees incurred by a user of the platform; and

· the availability of an alternative no-fee means to make direct payments through the board of education, board of trustees, or the nonpublic school.   

     The bill requires a public or nonpublic school to offer students, parents, and guardians a no-fee option for making direct payments for school meals, field trips, activity fees, or other goods or services provided by or distributed through the public or nonpublic school, or any school, group, or club thereof.  The option is to be provided at a time and place that is convenient for student, parent, and guardian use.   

     Finally, the bill requires that any communication from the board of education, board of trustees, or the nonpublic school, or any school, group, or club thereof, requesting payment for school meals, field trips, activity fees, or other goods or services is to include information on:

· the direct payment option required pursuant to the bill’s provisions; and

· the fees associated with use of any payment processing platform that may be used to make the payment. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to stipulate that the provisions of the bill:

· apply to renaissance school projects and nonpublic schools in addition to school districts and charter schools; and

· are to take effect in the first full school year following the date of enactment.