ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5254

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5254.

      As amended, this bill, titled the “Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act,” prohibits bullying of nonpublic school students and requires each nonpublic school to adopt an anti-harassment and bullying policy. 

      Under the bill, harassment or bullying, including cyberbullying, of a nonpublic school student by another student or students enrolled in a nonpublic school on school property, at a school function, or off school property is prohibited. 

      The bill provides that upon a report of an alleged incident of harassment or bullying against a student enrolled in a nonpublic school, the principal or chief school administrator of the nonpublic school, or a designee, will promptly investigate the incident.  The principal or chief school administrator, or a designee, will communicate the findings of the investigation with the victim and take immediate and appropriate action intended to stop any confirmed harassment or bullying to protect the safety of the victim.  The bill requires the principal or chief school administrator of the nonpublic school, or designee, to take appropriate action to protect the safety of any individual who in good faith reports an incident of harassment or bullying or assists in the investigation of an incident of harassment or bullying.

      The bill further requires each nonpublic school to adopt an anti-harassment and bullying policy, which is to be written in plain language and published on the school’s website or internal parent and student portal.  The policy is required to be shared annually with employees of the nonpublic school and each enrolled student and their parents or guardians. 

      Under the bill, the policy is required to include, at a minimum, information on:

      (1) the definition of harassment or bullying;

      (2) the process for reporting, investigating, and documenting an alleged incident of harassment or bullying; and

      (3) an age-appropriate process for notifying the victim about the outcome of any investigation of an alleged incident. 

      Finally, the bill requires any nonpublic school employee who witnesses an incident of harassment or bullying, or receives an oral or written report of harassment or bullying, to promptly notify the principal or chief school administrator of the school, or designee, orally not later than one school day after the school employee witnesses or receives a report of harassment or bullying, and to file a written report with the principal or chief school administrator, or designee, within two school days.  

      The bill clarifies that its provisions are not to be construed to infringe upon any right to exercise free expression or the free exercise of religion or religiously-based views protected under the First  Amendment to the United States Constitution, Article I of the New Jersey Constitution, or the religious exemption provisions of the New Jersey “Law Against Discrimination.” The bill provides that a nonpublic school is not exempt from the requirements of the bill solely because the school is operated or maintained by a bona fide religious or sectarian institution. The bill also clarifies that the provisions of the bill are severable. Finally, the bill clarifies that its provisions are not to be construed to preclude a nonpublic school from also electing to comply with the provisions of the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act.”

      This bill establishes requirements for nonpublic schools relating to bullying of students that are separate from those already established for public schools.  Under current State law, each public school is required to abide by the provisions of the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act."  While nonpublic schools are encouraged in State law to comply with the provisions of that act, they are not required to do so.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

· revise the definition of harassment or bullying in the bill;

· revise the definition of nonpublic school to apply to all nonpublic schools in the State;

· add a definition of school day;

· clarify that bullying occurring off school property is prohibited under the bill;

· clarify the actions required of principals and chief school administrators upon report of an alleged incident of harassment or bullying;

· provide that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to infringe upon any religious exemption provisions of the New Jersey “Law Against Discrimination;”

· stipulate that a nonpublic school is not exempt from the requirements of the bill solely because the school is operated or maintained by a bona fide religious or sectarian institution;

· clarify that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to preclude a nonpublic school from also electing to comply with the provisions of the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act;”

· stipulate that the provisions of the bill are severable; and

· make a technical change.