STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PAUL KANITRA
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman AL BARLAS
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman GERRY SCHARFENBERGER
District 13 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Fantasia
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to award students high school graduation credits in health, safety, and physical education for completing county fire academy course under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning credit for graduation requirements and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A student who successfully completes a course at a county fire academy shall be eligible to receive credit toward meeting high school graduation requirements for health, safety, and physical education in accordance with N.J.A.C.6A:8-5.1, provided that the student:
(1) is between the ages of 16 and 18 years old;
(2) completes an examination, as applicable, to become a junior firefighter, or an equivalent position; and
(3) commits to volunteer at the fire department that serves the municipality in which the student resides for a period of two years.
b. Nothing in this act shall be construed as fulfilling the requirement to become a member of the Junior Firefighter’s Auxiliary established pursuant to N.J.S.40A:14-96.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
The bill permits a student who successfully completes a course at a county fire academy to be eligible to receive credit toward meeting the high school graduation requirements for health, safety, and physical education if the student meets certain criteria. The student is required to: be between the ages of 16 and 18 years old; complete an examination, as applicable, to become a junior firefighter, or equivalent; and commit to volunteer at the fire department that serves the municipality in which the student resides for a period of two years.