STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing the Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act, “public school” means a school district, charter school, and renaissance school project in the State.
2. The Commissioner of Education shall administer a two-year Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program. The program shall award grants to public schools to help enhance school athletic programs by providing students with sports equipment and other resources to participate in sports and physical activities in schools.
3. a. A public school that wants to apply for a grant under the pilot program shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education. The application shall, at a minimum, include:
(1) relevant information to support the public school’s need for such a program;
(2) information concerning the availability and quality of existing athletic program equipment and resources in the public school;
(3) any other information as prescribed by the commissioner.
b. The commissioner shall select six public schools for participation in the pilot program. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner shall select public schools in the southern, central, and northern regions of the State and shall seek a cross section of public schools from urban, suburban, and rural areas.
4. a. At the conclusion of the pilot program each participating public school shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Education. The report shall include, at a minimum, information on the number of students who were served by the pilot program, including the number of students in each grade level; and the public school’s views on the success and benefits of the program.
b. After receiving the reports from each participating public school, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program. The report shall include the commissioner’s recommendation on the advisability of the program’s continuation and expansion to additional public schools in the State.
5. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Sports Equipment Equity Pilot Program. Under the program, grants are to be awarded to public schools to help enhance school athletic programs by providing students with sports equipment and other related resources to participate in sports and physical activities in schools.
A public school that wants to apply for a grant under the pilot program is required to submit an application to the commissioner. The application is required to include: relevant information to support the public school’s need for the program; information concerning the availability and quality of existing athletic program equipment and resources in the public school; any other information as prescribed by the commissioner.
The commissioner is to select six public schools for participation in the pilot program. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner is required to select public schools in the southern, central, and northern regions of the State and is to seek a cross section of public schools from urban, suburban, and rural areas.
At the conclusion of the pilot program each participating public school is required to submit a report to the commissioner. The report is to include, at a minimum, information on the number of students who were served by the pilot program, including the number of students in each grade level; and the public school’s views on the success and benefits of the program.
As defined in the bill, public school means a school district, charter school, and renaissance school project.