This is being sent on behalf of Government Relations

In this update:

 

• Governor Murphy’s budget address
• Join us for a lobby day
• Results from Monday, March 4
• Bills to be considered Thursday, March 7
• Bills to be considered Monday, March 11
• When is the legislature meeting again?

 

GOVERNOR MURPHY’S BUDGET ADDRESS

 

On Tuesday, Governor Murphy gave his budget address to the legislature.

 

Here are the highlights:

 

School funding:

• The budget includes a record investment in public education with additional funding for Pre-k-12, as well as higher education.  (Projects $206 million more for K-12, $33 million more for free tuition at county colleges and $68 million more for Pre-K)
• It continues the path toward full funding of SFRA, after many years of neglect.
• It demonstrates a commitment to investing in students and New Jersey families to build a brighter future for everyone in New Jersey.
• While most districts will see increases, some will face cuts, leaving their students without the resources they need.

 

Pension funding:

• The budget contains a record pension payment as the state continues ramping up to full funding of our pensions after years of neglect. (This is the 7/10th payment, a total of $3.8 billion)

 

Millionaires’ tax:

• Governor Murphy is asking for a millionaires’ tax, projected to raise $447 million by extending the millionaires’ tax to those with incomes of $1 million to $5 million. 

 

NJEA released a statement on the budget, https://www.njea.org/njea-statement-on-budget-address/, in which the NJEA officers commend the governor for a progressive, people-focused budget that includes record investments in public education and puts New Jersey on the path toward responsible pension funding.  At the same time, the officers state that the administration needs to work with those districts that are hurt by cuts to their funding and address the issue of skyrocketing health costs that are hurting public school employees.

 

The legislature will soon begin the budget hearing process, at which each department presents its budget to the Assembly and Senate budget committees as the legislature prepares its budget bill, which must be passed by June 30.

 

Want to read more about the budget?

• Governor Murphy has a budget page with video, the text, and other information: https://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/budget-fy20.shtml
• This NJ Spotlight article discusses the impact of the budget on schools https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/19/03/06/a-look-at-the-details-of-a-spending-plan-that-boosts-aid-to-districts-by-more-than-200m-and-pre-k-funding-by-68m/

 

JOIN US FOR A LOBBY DAY

 

We are holding lobby days!  Although we canceled the lobby day for Monday, March 4 due to the threatened snow, they are still happening.

 

Join NJEA in the statehouse on a session day to ask the legislature to fix the unfairness and give job justice to ESP members.  Lobby days give you a chance to remind legislators about why we need these bills.

 

Please remember that school employees need to take a personal day or union time to come to Trenton for a lobby day.  See here https://www.njea.org/njea-lobby-days-to-fix-the-unfairness/ for more details, or rsvp to Iris Star,istar@njea.org.

 

 

RESULTS FROM MONDAY, MARCH 4

 

• A1428/S2653 – Establishes Child Trafficking Awareness Pilot Programin DOE to train school district staff about warning signs and how to prevent child trafficking. (Monitor) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S2564 – Establishes “Restorative Justice in Education Pilot Program” in Department of Education. (Support) (Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S2843 – Establishes competitive grant program for school districts to assist inhiring of school psychologists; appropriates $1 million. (Support) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S2861 – Requires school districts to provide instruction on mental healthas part of health education curriculum. (Support) (Reported out of committee with committee substitute, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S3081 – Requires health curriculum for public school students in grades kindergarten through 12 to include instruction on mental health. (Support) (Reported out of committee with committee substitute, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S3160 – Establishes pilot program in DOE to provide later school start times for high school students. (Support) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S3172 – Requires public school instruction in suicide preventionto be provided in grades kindergarten through 12 and include certain elements. (Support) (Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S3258 – “Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act“; establishes school district responsibilities in educating gifted and talented students. (Support) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S3287 – Permits approved private schools for students with disabilitiesto include in tuition calculation hourly rates for healthcare provider consultants which equal average hourly rates paid by certain public schools serving students with disabilities. (Monitor) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate; Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee)
• S3288 – Requires DOE to define expenditures for behavior modification at approved private schools for studentswith disabilities as allowable instructional cost for purposes of tuition rate setting. (Monitor) (Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S3327 – Establishes Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritagein DOE. (Support) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S3378 – Prohibits health benefits coverage for certain non-medically indicated early elective deliveriesunder Medicaid program, SHBP, and SEHBP. (Monitor) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate; Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee)
• S85 – Establishes grant program for school districts to establish substance abuse prevention programs for eighth grade students. (No Position) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate; Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee)

 

BILLS TO BE CONSIDERED THURSDAY, MARCH 7

 

• S760 – Requires certain undergraduate students tofile degree plan and requires public institutions of higher education to develop pathway systems to graduation. (Seek amendments)
• S775 – Establishes Tuition Aid Grant Study Commissionto examine New Jersey’s Tuition Aid Grant Program and make recommendations regarding improvements to program. (Monitor)

 

BILLS TO BE CONSIDERED MONDAY, MARCH 11

 

• A5066 – Permits use of public schools and school district property for certain child care servicesfor children younger than school age. (Seek amendments)
• AJR88/SJR55 – Urges U.S. Congress to pass Equal Rights Amendment(Monitor)
• A3976/S1403 – Permits service credit transferred from another State-administered retirement system to apply toward creditable service requirement for retirement in SPRS. (Monitor)

 

WHEN IS THE LEGISLATURE MEETING AGAIN?

 

Thursday, March 7, 2019: Senate and Assembly Committees

Monday, March 11, 2019: Assembly Committees
Thursday, March 14, 2019: Senate Voting Session
Monday, March 18, 2019: Senate and Assembly Committees 
Monday, March 25, 2019: Senate and Assembly Voting Session

 

 

 

 

 

 

Francine Pfeffer Associate Director GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 180 W. State Street Trenton, NJ 08607-1211 p: 609-599-4561 x 2326 c: 732-280-8324 f: 609-394-3355 fpfeffer@njea.org

 

—

Patricia Robbins

Office Manager , Somerset County Education Association

1140 Route 22 East, Suite 100

Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Telephone: (908) 393-9000  Fax: (908) 393-9007

 

 

SCEA Chapter 78 ESP Job Justice Toolkit

 

SCEA 78ESP Calendar (2)

 

Dear Local Leaders,

 

Attached is the SCEA’s plan for securing relief from Chapter 78 and job justice for ESPs. 

 

This only works if locals take the lead. We ask that each local pick a day or two on the calendar when they can commit to going “all in” on the described action. We don’t need every local to do every single Money Monday or Thank You Thursday, but we do need every local to find a day or two when they can do something.

 

The plan culminates in a rally at the Bridgewater Commons Mall on Wednesday, March 27. We would love to have as many members at the mall as possible, wearing red! Please mark your calendars and encourage your membership to do the same.

 

SCEA leaders and NJEA staff are available to help you. We will go over the plan in greater detail at our next county meeting on March 14. Until then, please sign up for whatever your local feels comfortable with, and feel free to ask us any questions.

 

Thank you for all of the hard work you do, and for the actions you will help us take as a county.

 

Dan Epstein

President, Somerset County Education Association

Office (908) 393-9000

Mobile (609) 902-2067

This is being sent on behalf of Government Relations

 

Welcome to the first legislative update for February!

 

In this update:

 

• Governor’s recent actions on legislation
• Results from January 28 and January 31, 2019
• Bills to be considered on February 7
• Continue to advocate for these bills!
• When is the legislature meeting again?

  

GOVERNOR’S ACTIONS

 

• A557 – Requires the adoption of nepotism policiesby school districts and charter schools. (Monitor) (Governor’s conditional veto rcvd in Assembly)
• A2190 – Requires school districts to incorporate instruction in grades six through 12 on law and meaning of consent for physical contact and sexual activity as part of Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. (Support)
  (Signed by the Governor P.L.2019, c.16)
• A2436 – Requires certain school district transportation supervisorsto complete educational program. (Monitor) (Signed by the Governor P.L.2019, c.17)
• A4224 – Requires study of safety of school bus passengersin certain emergency situations, including school bus accidents; appropriates $250,000. (No Position) (Signed by the Governor P.L.2019, c.24)
• S1036 – Provides that AG handle investigation and prosecution of crimeinvolving person’s death by law enforcement officer while acting in officer’s official capacity or while in custody; requires trial in venue outside county where incident occurred. (Signed by the Governor P.L.2019, c.1)
• S1569 – Requires boards of education to include instruction, and adopt instructional materials, that accurately portray political, economic, and social contributions ofpersons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. (Support) (Signed by the Governor P.L.2019, c.6)
• S2914 – Requires suspension of school bus endorsementon driver’s license for certain number of motor vehicle moving violations in certain time period. (Monitor) (Signed by the Governor P.L.2019, c.9)

 

RESULTS FROM MONDAY, JANUARY 28     

 

• A1733 – Clarifies prohibition on preexisting condition exclusionsin health insurance policies. (Support) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Assembly)
• A15/S15 – Raises, over time, hourly minimum wage to $15.00. (Support) (Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Assembly)
• S1500  Requires disclosure by independent expenditure committees; raises certain campaign contribution limits. (Monitor) (Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S1790  Concerns law regarding failure to pay wages. (Support) (Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S2528  Revises law concerning family leave, temporary disability and family temporary disability leave, and domestic or sexual violence safety leave. (Support) (Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate)
• S3381  Revises provisions of law concerning graduation proficiency testand eliminates requirement that graduation proficiency test be administered in eleventh grade. (Seek Amendments) (Bill held)

 

 

RESULTS FROM THURSDAY, JANUARY 31

 

• A15/S15 – Raises, over time, hourly minimum wage to $15.00. (Support) (Passed in both houses and sent to Governor)
• A764 – “Alyssa’s Law”; requires public school buildings to be equipped with panic alarmlinked to local law enforcement. (Support) (Passed in Senate and sent to Governor)
• A850/S641 – Upgrades penalty for failing to report act of sexual abuse against child. (Monitor) (Passed in both houses and sent to Governor)
• A1400/S3245 – Revises law governing Class Three special law enforcement officer. (No Position) (Passed in both houses and sent to Governor)
• A1909/A4404/S-2709 – Provides that certain persons who commit act of sexual penetration or sexual contact with students who are at least 18 but less than 22 years old are guilty of sexual assault or criminal sexual assault. (Support) (Passed in Assembly)
• A3975/S2528 – Revises law concerning family leave, temporary disability and family temporary disability leave, and domestic or sexual violence safety leave. (Support) (Passed in both houses and sent to Governor)
• A4031/S1773 – Requires display of identifying information on rear of school busso public may report bus driver misconduct. (Monitor) (Passed in both houses and sent to Governor)
• A4151 – Requires school security trainingfor persons employed by public and nonpublic schools in substitute capacity and for employees and volunteers of youth programs operated in school buildings. (No Position) (Passed in Assembly)
• A4199/S2715 – Requires Attorney General to develop protocol for retaining footage from school surveillance system. (No Position) (Passed in both houses and sent to Governor)
• A4406/S2712 – Mandates certain training for DOE arbitrators. (Support) (Passed in both houses and sent to Governor)
• A4408/S2714 – Requires school districts to notify State Board of Examinerswhen teaching staff member fails to report child abuse for determination of revocation or suspension of certificate. (No Position) (Passed in both houses and sent to Governor)
• A4702 – “Hunger-Free Campus Act“; requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish grant program to address food insecurity among students enrolled in public institutions of higher education; appropriates $1 million. (Support) (Reported out of committee; Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee)
• A4703/S3234 – Requires Chief Technology Officer to establish “Anti-Hunger Link” for all State websites, providing information on emergency food services. (Support) (Reported out of committee; Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee)
• A4704/S3237 – Directs Department of Agriculture to establish food desert produce pilot program. (Support) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate)
• A4705/S3232 – Establishes New Jersey Food Waste Task Forceto make recommendations concerning food waste in New Jersey. (Support) (Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Senate)
• A4707/S3231 – Directs Dept. of Agriculture to establish public awareness campaign for food waste. (Support) (Reported out of committee; Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee)
• A4708/S3235 – Establishes Farm Liaison in Department of Agriculture. (Support) (Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Senate)
• A4799 – Permits self-administration of hydrocortisone sodium succinateby students for adrenal insufficiency and requires that school districts and nonpublic schools establish policy for emergency administration of medication. (Monitor) (Passed in Assembly)
• S778 – Establishes Campus Sexual Assault Commission. (Monitor) (Passed in Senate)
• S2044 – Establishes “Deaf Student’s Bill of Rights.” (Support) (Passed in Senate)
• S2045 – Establishes Working Group on Deaf Education; directs DOE to develop parent resource guide; requires DOE and DOH to collect and report certain data on delays in deaf and hard of hearing children from birth to age 5. (Support) (Passed in Senate)
• S2676 – Requires boards of education and nonpublic schools to provide law enforcement authorities with copies of blueprints and maps of schools and school grounds. (Support) (Passed in Senate)
• S2707 – Establishes task force within DOE on prevention of sexual abuse of children.
• (Support) (Passed in Assembly)
• S3065 – Establishes youth apprenticeship pilot programin Department of Education. (Support) (Passed in Senate)
• SR67 – Urges school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to be better educated about potential health impacts of heavy backpacksand take proactive measures to avoid injury. (Support) (Filed with Secretary of State)

 

CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE ON THESE BILLS

 

• SUSPEND NJ’S HIGH SCHOOL EXIT TESTING REQUIREMENTS!
  • On December 31, 2018, the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey struck down the New Jersey Department of Education’s (DOE) regulations around end-of-course exams.  State law, however, still mandates that students pass an eleventh grade assessment to graduate—and there is not adequate time to develop an assessment that meets the requirements of the law for this year’s class.
  • Senate Education Chair Teresa Ruiz and Assembly Education Chair Pam Lampitt have introduced legislation (S-3381/A-4957) to fix this problem by eliminating the requirement that the graduation proficiency test be administered in eleventh grade. NJEA opposes this solution!
  • NJEA supports the solution proposed in legislation (A-672/S-558) sponsored by Assemblywoman Mila Jasey and Senator Nia Gill.  This bill will suspend exit testing without infringing upon the federal accountability testing requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), will ease students’ and parents’ confusion about graduation, and will give the Department of Education time to work with stakeholders to develop an assessment that is designed for New Jersey.
  • TAKE ACTION!  Contact your state legislators and urge them to support A-672/S-558. https://www.njea.org/tell-your-legislators-to-suspend-njs-high-school-exit-testing-requirements/

 

• CHAPTER 78 RELIEF
  • S-2606/A-4352 would tie public employees’ premium share for health benefits to a percentage of salary instead of a percentage of premium cost. This bill, sponsored by Senator Joe Cryan and Assembly members Gary Schaer, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and Annette Quijano, would reduce the amount most NJEA members pay toward their health insurance and return fairness to the bargaining table.
  • If you want to read the bill yourself go to https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S3000/2606_I1.HTM
  • TAKE ACTION!Call 1-855-891-CH78 (2478).  You will hear a brief recorded message by NJEA President Marie Blistan.  After the message plays you will be connected to a member of the Assembly State and Local Government Committee. Ask them to hold a hearing on A-4352 ASAP!
  • Contact your own legislators and get them on board! Follow this link to take action! https://actioncenter.njea.org/tell-senators-to-change-health-benefit-premium-sharing-laws/

 

• FIGHT PRIVATIZATION
  • S-296 (Holzapfel, Thompson)/A-3185/A-3395 (Conaway, Dancer, Mazzeo, Armato, Giblin/McGuckin, Dancer, Giblin) would prohibit employers from entering into subcontracting agreements during the term of an existing collective bargaining agreement. Once a collective bargaining agreement expires, an employer would be permitted to enter into a subcontracting agreement only if:
    • The employer provides written notice
    • The employer offers the majority representative the opportunity to meet and discuss the decision to subcontract and negotiate over its impact.

AND…each employee replaced or displaced because of a subcontracting agreement would retain all previously acquired seniority and would have recall rights if the subcontracting terminates.

• Let’s get this bill moving.  https://actioncenter.njea.org/protect-the-jobs-of-esp-members/

o  TAKE ACTION! Call 1-855-413 ESPs (3777).  You will hear a brief recorded message by NJEA President Marie Blistan.  After the message plays you will be connected to your legislator’s office.

 

 

• GET JOB JUSTICE FOR ESPS
• A-3664 would extend to non-teaching employees of local, county or regional school districts, boards or commissions the right to submit to binding arbitration any dispute regarding whether there is just cause for a disciplinary action.
• TAKE ACTION!Call 1-855-413 ESPs (3777).  You will hear a brief recorded message by NJEA President Marie Blistan.  After the message plays you will be connected to your legislator’s office.
• Let’s get this bill moving! https://actioncenter.njea.org/tell-the-assembly-support-just-cause-arbitration/

 

 

WHEN IS THE LEGISLATURE MEETING AGAIN?

 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019: Senate and Assembly Committees
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019: Senate and Assembly Committees
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019: Senate Voting Session

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019: Assembly Voting Session

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019: Senate Committees
TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019: Governor’s Budget Message 
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019: Senate and Assembly Committees

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019: Assembly Committees
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019: Senate Voting Session
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019: Senate and Assembly Committees 
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2019: Senate and Assembly Voting Session

 

 

 

 

Francine Pfeffer Associate Director GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 180 W. State Street Trenton, NJ 08607-1211 p: 609-599-4561 x 2326 c: 732-280-8324 f: 609-394-3355 fpfeffer@njea.org

 

—

Patricia Robbins

Office Manager , Somerset County Education Association

1140 Route 22 East, Suite 100

Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Telephone: (908) 393-9000  Fax: (908) 393-9007