Current Legislation - May 24, 2012

MINIMUM WAGE:  A-2162 (Oliver, Greenwald, Green, Johnson, Prieto, Wisniewski) increases New Jersey’s hourly minimum wage rate to $8.50 on July 1, 2012 and then makes annual adjustments to the minimum wage rate based on any increase in the CPI. NJEA supported the bill, which passed the Assembly 46-33.  The bill now moves to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECK OF SCHOOL DISTRICT VOLUNTEERS: A-598 (Spencer, Caputo, Quijano) This legislation, supported by NJEA, calls for all school district volunteers to receive a criminal background check.  This background check will be in accordance with the same standards and procedures used to conduct such checks on paid school district employees. The bill passed the Assembly 78-0 and now moves to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Education Committee.

JANET’S LAW:  A-1608 (Bramnick)  “Janet’s Law,” in memory of Janet Zilinski, an 11-year old who died of sudden cardiac arrest following a cheerleading squad practice, requires that public school districts and non-public schools ensure that an automated external defibrillator (AED) is readily available and within reasonable proximity of school-sponsored athletic events or team practices.  The bill stipulates that a team coach or other designated staff member trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an AED be present. NJEA supported the bill, which passed in the Assembly 78-0 and now moves to the Senate.