ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5186

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5186.

      As amended, this bill establishes the School Security Pilot Program in the Department of Education.

      The three-year School Security Pilot Program would supplement mental health services for students enrolled in school districts and provide security infrastructure to certain school districts. Under the bill, a school district wishing to participate in the pilot program will submit an application to the commissioner. The commissioner will subsequently select school districts for participation in the program pursuant to a methodology established by the commissioner.

      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 would include: a supplemental mental health program available to students enrolled in a participating district that incorporates certain mental health services; and additional security supports for participating districts.

      The bill requires the commissioner to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature within one year after of 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.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

· remove references to the county-based pilot program and revise the pilot program to be a pilot program for school districts;

· expand eligibility for the program from Essex, Mercer, and Camden counties to school districts;

· define rolling mobile ballistic shield systems and require the security supports offered under the program to include rolling mobile ballistic shield systems;

· direct the commissioner to establish an application and selection process for the pilot program;

· revise the synopsis to reflect the amendments; and

· make technical changes.