Current Legislation - June 4, 2012

SHARING SERVICES:  S-1459 (Sweeney, Weinberg).  This bill requires a county that employs a qualified purchasing agent to award a single County Wide Contract for custodial services, food services, or both, to school districts within the county.  Specifically, the bill reads: “the office of the executive county superintendent and every local school district shall be required to participate in the county program.”  This legislation will undercut local control of programs and services, imposing a one-size-fits-all county-wide contract, negotiated by someone with no educational background, and with no opportunity for local educational oversight of the arrangement.  The bill was held by the Senate Education Committee.  NJEA opposes the bill.

TASK FORCE ON IMPROVING SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS: S-600 (Beck, Ruiz)  This bill, which was unanimously voted out of the Senate Education Committee, would establish a task force to study issues related to improving funding and delivery of appropriate and cost-effective special education programs and services for public students.  NJEA, which served on a similar task force under Governor Corzine, would hold one of the 17 seats.  NJEA supports the bill.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL GUIDELINES:  S-817 (Beck, Madden): This legislation, which establishes temperature control guidelines and standards for school facilities, was released with from the Senate Education Committee.  NJEA strongly supports this legislation, which has been referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.