Current Legislation - Oct. 11, 2012

GANG SOLICITATION ON SCHOOL PROPERTY: S-1479 (Sacco) passed the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee unanimously today and is on second reading in the Senate.  This legislation amends N.J.S.A.2C:33-28 and concerns soliciting or recruiting of individuals for a criminal street gang on school property.  Under this bill, an actor who commits the offense on school property is guilty of a crime of the third degree and is punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.  NJEA supports this bill.

LOAN REDEMPTION AND BONUS PROGRAM:  A-2297 (Watson Coleman) passed the Assembly Higher Education committee and is on second reading in the Assembly.  The bill would establish a loan redemption program for individuals who agree to teach in schools in need of improvement.  It would also establish a bonus program for teachers in those schools, who would receive a bonus for acquiring tenure and then achieving five years of service.  NJEA supported the idea of the bill but asked the sponsor for amendments to make the bonus program collectively bargained and to change the definition of a school in need of improvement.