The following special education and disability-related legislation was signed by the Governor in the final days of the 2021 session:
S-1020 (Ruiz, Gopal/Zwicker, Conaway, Verrelli, Caputo) – Requires that the School Report Card include school-level demographic breakdown of students who receive disciplinary actions and requires the Commissioner of Education to establish a Statewide database concerning certain disciplinary actions. The data must include students who are expelled suspended or otherwise disciplined, and must include race, gender, disability status, and grade level. Read the bill.
S-2160/A-5701 (Sweeney, Oroho, Singer/Carter, Lampitt, Jasey) – Creates a special education unit within the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and requires annual report. Because special education is procedurally complex, often OAL judges do not have specific expertise or knowledge of special education law. In addition, the number of special education cases before OAL had created a backlog of cases, often in violation of state and federal timelines. This bill is intended to address the backlog and delays at OAL in handling special education matters and means that judges who now hear cases will be trained in special education law. Read the bill.
S-2723/A-2614 (Sweeney, Turner/Murphy, Benson, Timberlake) – “21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act.” Among other things, the law requires that all state websites be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Read the bill.
S-4211/A-6228 (Sweeney, Corrado/Benson, Speight, Zwicker) – Establishes county college-based adult centers for transition for individuals with developmental disabilities and makes an annual appropriation of $4.5 million. The new law requires that county college-based adult centers coordinate and integrate existing county and State-based services, programs, and resources; and ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities up to the age of 24 have opportunities to receive mentoring, job coaching, skill training, and any other appropriate wrap-around services to help them make a successful transition into employment and independent living, as appropriate. The law allows the county colleges to receive funds from the State and federal governments or private individuals, corporations, associations, or college foundations to meet the expenses of the new transition centers. Read the bill.
A-4856/S-3094 (Lampitt, Benson, Caputo/Ruiz, Beach) – Requires Internet websites and web services of school districts, charter schools, renaissance schools, and the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf to be accessible to persons with disabilities. Read the bill.
A-5294/S-3418 (Speight, Vainieri Huttle, Verrelli/Gopal, Madden) – Provides fast track hiring and advancement employment opportunities by the State for persons with significant disabilities. The bill allows a state agency to appoint a qualified person with significant disabilities to an unclassified service position, or a noncompetitive temporary position or noncompetitive permanent position in the career service of civil service. The person must provide proof of a significant disability. Read the bill.
A5296/ S3426 (Speight, Vainieri Huttle, McKnight / T. Kean, Schepisi) – Provides for employment by the State of New Jersey of certain persons with disabilities. The new law establishes a proactive system for recruiting, hiring, promoting and retaining people with disabilities in the State work force, and establishes a mentoring, internship, or similar work-based learning experiences for persons with disabilities. The bill includes a centralized accommodation program to consolidate subject matter expertise necessary to assess, evaluate, and implement effective and meaningful accommodations, and funding streams for accommodations. Read the bill.
