Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Clifton
SYNOPSIS
Requires superintendent to verify to DOE that school district policy on harassment, intimidation, or bullying includes anonymous reporting procedure.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning school district policies on harassment, intimidation, or bullying and supplementing P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-13 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The superintendent of schools of each school district, or the superintendent's designee, shall annually review the district’s policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying required pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-15) to verify that the policy includes a procedure for reporting an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying anonymously in accordance with paragraph (5) of subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-15).
b. The superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, shall annually provide a statement of assurance to the Department of Education verifying that the school district’s policy includes a procedure for anonymous reporting.
c. The State Board of Examiners shall revoke the certificate of a superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, who:
(1) falsifies the statement of assurance required pursuant to subsection b. of this section if the State Board of Examiners determines the information was intentionally falsified; or
(2) interferes with or otherwise attempts to dissuade any person with credible information from reporting, or planning to report, an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
The State Board of Examiners shall comply with the procedures established in the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education when revoking a certificate pursuant to this subsection.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the superintendent of schools of each school district, or the superintendent's designee, to annually review the district’s policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying required under the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act” to verify that the policy includes a procedure for anonymous reporting of an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in accordance with current law.
The bill requires the superintendent to annually provide a statement of assurance to the Department of Education verifying that the school district’s policy includes a procedure for anonymous reporting. The bill authorizes the State Board of Examiners to revoke the certificate of a superintendent who: falsifies the statement of assurance required under the bill if the State Board of Examiners determines the information was intentionally falsified; or who interferes with or otherwise attempts to dissuade any person with credible information from reporting, or planning to report, an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
Additionally, the State Board of Examiners is required to follow the procedures established by the State Board of Education when revoking a certificate pursuant to the provisions of this bill.