reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:30-9.1 - Use of accrued vacation leave by board of education employee.

18A:30-9.1 Use of accrued vacation leave by board of education employee.
5. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, an officer or employee of a board of education, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, who does not take vacation leave that accrues in a given year because of business demands shall be granted that accrued leave only during the next succeeding year. However, vacation leave not taken in a given year because of duties directly related to a state of emergency declared by the Governor may accumulate at the discretion of the appointing authority until, pursuant to a plan established by the officer or employee's appointing authority, the leave is used or the employee or officer is compensated for that leave, which shall not be subject to collective negotiation or collective bargaining. This provision shall apply only to officers and employees who commence service with the board of education, or the agency or instrumentality thereof, on or after the effective date of P.L.2010, c.3. This section shall not be construed to affect the terms in any collective negotiations agreement with a relevant provision in force on that effective date.
L.2010, c.3, s.5.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:30-10 - Establishment of sick leave bank for employees of board of education.

18A:30-10 Establishment of sick leave bank for employees of board of education.
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a sick leave bank may be established for employees of a board of education if both the board and the majority representative or majority representatives of the employees who would be eligible to participate consent to the establishment of the sick leave bank. The purpose of the sick leave bank shall be to enable employees of the board who are entitled to sick leave under chapter 30 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes to draw needed days of sick leave in addition to any days to which they are otherwise entitled. The sick leave days available to a board employee from the sick leave bank shall be leave days previously donated to the bank by board employees. Employees may donate sick leave days or any other leave time as agreed upon by the board and the majority representative. Sick leave drawn from the bank shall be treated for all purposes as if it were accrued sick leave time of the employee who receives it. No employee shall be required to participate in the bank.
L.2007, c.223, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:30-11 - Administration of sick leave bank.

18A:30-11 Administration of sick leave bank.
2. The sick leave bank shall be administered by a committee which shall be comprised of three members selected by the board of education and three members selected by the majority representative or majority representatives of those employees of the board who are eligible to participate in the sick leave bank. The committee may establish standards or procedures that it deems appropriate for the operation of the sick leave bank, which may include a requirement that employees donate leave time to be eligible to draw leave time from the sick leave bank and limitations on the amount of sick leave time which may be drawn or the conditions under which the sick leave time may be drawn. No day of leave which is donated to a sick leave bank by an employee shall be drawn by that employee or any other employee from the sick leave bank unless authorized by the committee in order to provide sick leave.
L.2007, c.223, s.2.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:30-12 - Certain policies unaffected.

18A:30-12 Certain policies unaffected.
3. No provision of this act, or regulation promulgated to implement or enforce this act, shall be deemed to justify a board of education in reducing or making less favorable to employees any sick leave, disability pay or other benefits provided by the board or required by a collective bargaining agreement which are more favorable to the employees than those required by this act, nor shall any provision of this act, or any regulation promulgated to implement or enforce this act, be construed to prohibit the negotiation and provision through collective bargaining agreements of sick leave, disability pay or other benefits which are more favorable to the employee than those required by this act, irrespective of the date that a collective bargaining agreement takes effect.
L.2007, c.223, s.3.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:30-13 - Construction of act.

18A:30-13 Construction of act.
4. No provision of this act shall be construed as limiting the authority of a board of education to provide an employee with additional days of salary pursuant to N.J.S.18A:30-6 after all sick leave available to the employee, including days provided under this act, has been used.
L.2007, c.223, s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:31-2 - Attendance at conventions of New Jersey Education Association

18A:31-2. Attendance at conventions of New Jersey Education Association
Whenever any full-time teaching staff member of any board of education of any local school district or regional school district or of a county vocational school or any secretary, or office clerk applies to the board of education by which he is employed for permission to attend the annual convention of the New Jersey Education Association, such permission shall be granted for a period of not more than two days in any one year and he shall receive his whole salary for the days of actual attendance upon the sessions of such convention upon filing with the secretary of the board a certificate of such attendance signed by the executive secretary of the association.
L.1967, c.271
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:32-1 - Appropriation for establishment and maintenance

18A:32-1. Appropriation for establishment and maintenance
Whenever in any county there shall have been raised by subscription a sum of money not less than $100.00 for the establishment of a library of pedagogical books for the use of the teachers of the public schools, the director of the treasury shall, upon the order of the commissioner, draw his warrant on the state treasurer in favor of the county superintendent of the county for the sum of $100.00 for the benefit of such library. Annually thereafter there shall be paid on a like order a sum not less than $50.00 nor more than $100.00 upon condition that there shall have been raised by subscription a like sum for the maintenance of the library for the year.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-1 - District to furnish suitable facilities; adoption of courses of study

18A:33-1. District to furnish suitable facilities; adoption of courses of study
Each school district shall provide, for all children who reside in the district and are required to attend the public schools therein and those who reside therein or elsewhere and are entitled or permitted to attend the schools of the district pursuant to law, suitable educational facilities including proper school buildings and furniture and equipment, convenience of access thereto, and courses of study suited to the ages and attainments of all pupils between the ages of five and 20 years, either in schools within the district convenient of access to the pupils, or as provided by article 2 of chapter 38 of this title, but no course of study shall be adopted or altered except by the recorded roll call majority vote of the full membership of the board of education of the district.
L.1967, c.271.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-1.1 - Substandard facility; approval; inspection; abandonment

18A:33-1.1. Substandard facility; approval; inspection; abandonment
No substandard facility shall be approved for more than two consecutive years unless it is inspected by the Bureau of Facility Planning Services in the Division of Finance to insure that the buildings meet health, safety and educational standards for temporary facilities and that utilization of the facilities is of a temporary and limited nature. Any facility which is determined to be inadequate shall be ordered abandoned pursuant to N.J.S. 18A:20-36.
L.1983, c. 373, s. 1, eff. Oct. 28, 1983.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-1.2 - Rules and regulations

18A:33-1.2. Rules and regulations
The State Board of Education shall develop rules and regulations for the approval of substandard emergency building facilities for the accommodation of school pupils which regulations shall insure that the buildings meet health, safety and educational standards and that the utilization of the facilities are of a temporary and limited nature.
L.1983, c. 373, s. 2, eff. Oct. 28, 1983.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-2 - Penalty for failure to provide proper facilities.

18A:33-2 Penalty for failure to provide proper facilities.
18A:33-2. When any school district shall fail to provide such facilities and courses of study, the county superintendent shall, by order in writing, approved in writing by the commissioner and transmitted to the board secretary or treasurer of school moneys, as appropriate, of the district, direct the secretary or treasurer to withhold further payments, for the account of the district, of any moneys theretofore and thereafter received from State aid until such suitable facilities and courses of study shall be provided, which order shall be effective upon the date stated by the commissioner in his approval thereof. The county superintendent shall notify the board of education of the district of his action with the reasons therefor forthwith.
amended 2010, c.39, s.25.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-2.1 - Closing high school; contracting with another district; referendum

18A:33-2.1. Closing high school; contracting with another district; referendum
No board of education of a school district providing high school education in its own high school shall propose to close its high school and to contract with another district or districts to provide high school education for pupils of the district, unless and until a public question as to whether or not the board may enter into such a contract or contracts shall be submitted to and approved by a majority of the voters of the district voting thereon at an annual or special school election.
L.1967, c.271.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-3 - Food service bidding exemption

18A:33-3. Food service bidding exemption
A board of education of any district may, itself or under contract, install, equip, supply and operate cafeterias or other agencies for dispensing food to public school pupils without profit to the district and may purchase food services and supplies therefor subject to the provisions of N.J.S. 18A:18A-6 and pursuant to rules and regulations of the State board, without advertisement for bids.
L.1967, c.271; amended by L. 1985, c. 527, s. 2, eff. Jan. 21, 1986.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-3.1 - Establishment of prepaid school lunch program.

18A:33-3.1 Establishment of prepaid school lunch program.
1. A board of education may establish a program through which the parent or guardian of a student may prepay for lunches served to the student in the school cafeteria.
L.2006,c.14.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-4 - School lunch, availability to all children; report to the Governor, Legislature; rules, regulations.

18A:33-4 School lunch, availability to all children; report to the Governor, Legislature; rules, regulations.
1. a. (1) Each school district shall make school lunch available to all students enrolled in the district, except at those schools that are exempt from the requirements of this section, as provided by section 2 of P.L.1974, c.53 (C.18A:33-5), within one year after the effective date of P.L.1974, c.53 (C.18A:33-4 et seq.).
(2) School lunches made available pursuant to this section shall meet minimum nutritional standards, established by the Department of Education.
(3) Free or reduced price lunches, as appropriate, shall be offered, under a school lunch program, to each student enrolled in the district who is determined to be federally eligible for free or reduced price meals. As provided by section 1 of P.L.2019, c.445 (C.18A:33-21.1), any student who is eligible for a reduced price lunch, pursuant to federal income eligibility standards and criteria, shall not be required to pay for such lunch. Free lunches shall also be offered to each student enrolled in the district who is federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals, but who has an annual household income that is not less than 186 percent, and not more than 199 percent, of the federal poverty level, as determined pursuant to section 16 of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-21b1).
b. The State shall provide funding to each school district, as may be necessary to reimburse the costs associated with the district's provision of free lunches, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to students who are federally ineligible for free or reduced price meals.
c. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall annually prepare and submit, to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a written report that identifies, for each school and school district in the State:
(1) the methods that are being used by each school or school district to facilitate the prompt identification and subsidized meal certification of students who are categorically eligible or income-eligible for free or reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Program; and
(2) the number and percentage of income-eligible students from low-income families and from middle-income families, respectively, that are receiving free or reduced price lunches under the National School Lunch Program and the provisions of this section.
d. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations establishing a schedule for, and identifying the manner in which, State-level reimbursements are to be made pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
L.1974, c. 53, s. 1, eff. July 1, 1974; amended 2022, c.104, s.2.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-5 - Exemptions

18A:33-5. Exemptions
Any school at which less than five percent of enrolled students are federally eligible for a free or reduced price lunch shall be exempt from the provisions of P.L.1974, c.53 (C.18A:33-1 et seq.).
L.1974, c. 53, s. 2, eff. July 1, 1974; amended 2022, c.104, s.3.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-6 - Display of poster illustrating choke prevention techniques

18A:33-6. Display of poster illustrating choke prevention techniques
Each local board of education shall:
a. Ensure that posters illustrating choke prevention techniques such as the "Heimlich Maneuver" are prominently displayed in all school cafeterias, faculty dining rooms and all other public school locations designated as places where food is consumed;
b. Have pamphlets illustrating choke prevention techniques available in every school for free distribution to students; and
c. Utilize, for the purposes of this section, instructional posters and pamphlets prepared by the Department of Health pursuant to P.L.1983, c.488 (C.26:3E-1 et seq.).
L.1989, c.302, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-7 - Posting of drinking water test reports by public schools.

18A:33-7 Posting of drinking water test reports by public schools.
6. a. The principal of every public school who is required to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996,"42 U.S.C.s.300f et al., or who receives a Consumer Confidence Report from the owner or operator of a public community water system, shall post each Consumer Confidence Report the principal prepares or receives in a conspicuous location near each major entrance to the public school.
b. The principal of every public school who is a supplier of water but is not required to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996," and who is required to conduct tests of its drinking water by the Department of Environmental Protection, shall post a chart setting forth the results of the water tests, including the level of detection and, as appropriate for each contaminant, the maximum contaminant level, highest level allowed, action level, treatment technique, or other expression of an acceptable level, for each contaminant, in a conspicuous location near each major entrance to the public school. The chart also shall include in bold print the statement required to be included in a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to 40 CFR s.141.154(a). The chart shall not include contaminants that are not detected.
c. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall not be required to conduct on-site inspections to determine compliance with this section more frequently than any on-site inspections of public schools are conducted by the department pursuant to any other law.
L.1999,c.362,s.6.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-8 - Posting of drinking water test reports by nonpublic schools.

18A:33-8 Posting of drinking water test reports by nonpublic schools.
7. a. The chief administrative officer of every nonpublic school required to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996,"42 U.S.C.s.300f et al., or who receives a Consumer Confidence Report from the owner or operator of a public community water system, shall post each Consumer Confidence Report the chief administrative officer prepares or receives in a conspicuous location near each major entrance to the nonpublic school.
b. The chief administrative officer of every nonpublic school which is a supplier of water but is not required to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996," and who is required to conduct tests of its drinking water by the Department of Environmental Protection, shall post a chart setting forth the results of the water tests, including the level of detection and, as appropriate for each contaminant, the maximum contaminant level, highest level allowed, action level, treatment technique, or other expression of an acceptable level, for each contaminant, in a conspicuous location near each major entrance to the nonpublic school. The chart also shall include in bold print the statement required to be included in a Consumer Confidence Report pursuant to 40 CFR s.141.154(a). The chart shall not include contaminants that are not detected.
c. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall not be required to conduct on-site inspections to determine compliance with this section more frequently than any on-site inspections of nonpublic schools are conducted by the department pursuant to any other law.
L.1999,c.362,s.7.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-9 - Findings, declarations relative to school breakfast programs

18A:33-9. Findings, declarations relative to school breakfast programs
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The federal School Breakfast Program is a federally assisted meal program that is implemented in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions nationwide, and is designed to ensure that each participating child receives breakfast containing at least one-fourth of the nutrients needed daily.
b. The federal School Breakfast Program was established in 1966 with the purpose of providing a nutritious, well-balanced breakfast to promote sound eating habits, and fostering good health and academic achievement for school-age children.
c. New Jersey ranks fiftieth in the nation for participation in the federal School Breakfast Program by schools offering school lunch, and the State has seen only modest increases in participation in recent years.
d. Research shows that school breakfast increases attendance and decreases tardiness, improves academic performance both in class and on standardized tests, improves attentiveness, and reduces emotional and behavioral problems among students from all backgrounds.
e. Based on the foregoing findings, it is clearly in the public interest for the State to require school districts to offer school breakfasts through the federal School Breakfast Program, and to publicize the availability of such breakfasts in their communities.
L.2003,c.4,s.1; amended 2022, c.104, s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-11 - Implementation of school breakfast program by district

18A:33-11. Implementation of school breakfast program by district
3. In implementing a school lunch program, pursuant to P.L.1974, c.53 (C.18A:33-4 et seq.), a school breakfast program, pursuant to P.L.2003, c.4 (C.18A:33-9 et seq.) or section 6 of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-10.1), or a breakfast after the bell program, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2014, c.66 (C.18A:33-11.1) or section 2 of P.L.2018, c.25 (C.18A:33-11.3), each school and school district shall:
a. publicize, to parents and students, the availability of the respective school meals program, as well as the various ways in which a student may qualify to receive free or reduced price meals under the program, as provided by subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.1974, c.53 (C.18A:33-4) and subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-14a);
b. make every effort to ensure that subsidized students are not recognized as program participants, by the student body, faculty, or staff, in a manner that is different from the manner in which unsubsidized students are recognized as program participants. Such efforts shall include, but need not be limited to, the establishment of a neutral meal plan or voucher system that does not make a distinction between subsidized and unsubsidized students; and
c. make every effort to:
(1) facilitate the prompt and accurate identification of categorically eligible students who may be certified to participate in the program, on a subsidized basis, without first submitting an application therefor, and, whenever an application is required to establish eligibility for subsidized meals, encourage students and their families to submit a subsidized school meals application for that purpose;
(2) facilitate and expedite, to the greatest extent practicable, the subsidized school meals application and income-eligibility determination processes that are used, by the school or school district, to certify a student for free or reduced price school meals on the basis of income, and assist parents and guardians in completing the school meals application; and
(3) encourage students who are neither categorically eligible nor income-eligible for free or reduced price school meals to nonetheless participate, on a paid and unsubsidized basis, in the program.
L.2003,c.4,s.3; amended 2022, c.104, s.7.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-11.1 - "Breakfast after the bell" program; report to Governor, Legislature.

18A:33-11.1 "Breakfast after the bell" program; report to Governor, Legislature.
1. a. A public school operated by a school district that participates in the federal School Breakfast Program, or a nonpublic school participating in the federal School Breakfast Program, is encouraged to increase the number of students participating in the program by establishing a breakfast after the bell program that incorporates school breakfast into the first-period classroom or the first few minutes of the school day.
b. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education shall:
(1) make every effort to assist, guide, and support school districts, public schools, and nonpublic schools in planning, establishing, implementing, or modifying a breakfast after the bell program to increase the number of students, especially the number of students from low-income families and middle-income families, who are participating in each school breakfast program.
(2) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2022, c.104)
L.2014, c.66, s.1; amended 2022, c.104, s.8.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-11.5 - Guidelines.

18A:33-11.5 Guidelines.
4. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall develop guidelines, as may be necessary to facilitate the implementation and operation of breakfast after the bell programs by schools in the State, in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2014, c.66 (C.18A:33-11.1), sections 1 and 2 of P.L.2018, c.25 (C.18A:33-11.2 and C.18A:33-11.3), and section 12 of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-14a), including, but not limited to, guidelines, consistent with the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21), concerning a school's receipt of payment, from unsubsidized students, for breakfasts served to such students under a breakfast after the bell program.
L.2018, c.25, s.4; amended 2022, c.104, s.11.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-11.6 - Rules, regulations.

18A:33-11.6 Rules, regulations.
5. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
L.2018, c.25, s.5.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-11.7 - Department of Agriculture, provision of "breakfast after the bell" per meal financial supplement; annual report; funds appropriation.

18A:33-11.7 Department of Agriculture, provision of "breakfast after the bell" per meal financial supplement; annual report; funds appropriation.
1. a. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall provide a 10-cent per breakfast supplement to the existing federal reimbursement to school districts that participate in the federal school breakfast program by providing "breakfast after the bell."
b. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall provide guidance and support to school districts necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
c. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall prepare and issue an annual report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature on the annual cost of the breakfast supplement to the State, and the number of additional students, since the prior year, participating in the "breakfast after the bell" program for each school district.
d. The Legislature shall annually appropriate such funds as are necessary to implement this act.
L.2021, c.247.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-14 - Rules, regulations

18A:33-14. Rules, regulations
6. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), concerning the revision of school breakfast plans for schools that have a participation rate of less than 50% of eligible students in a school breakfast program during any year of the program, and other matters necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act
L.2003,c.4,s.6.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-14.1 - Report of nonparticipation in school meal programs.

18A:33-14.1 Report of nonparticipation in school meal programs.
1. a. (1) A school district that participates in the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program shall take steps to maximize the use of federal resources and to minimize the debt that is incurred by families for school meals, in accordance with a protocol established by the Department of Agriculture. The protocol established by the department, pursuant to this paragraph, shall be adopted within 180 days after the effective date of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-3.2 et al.), in consultation with the Department of Education, the School Nutrition Association of New Jersey, and all relevant stakeholders, and shall: (a) promote the increased certification of students from low-income families and middle-income families for free and reduced price school meals, in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-3.2 et al.); and (b) identify best practices to maximize the receipt and use of federal resources by the district's schools.
(2) The Department of Agriculture and Department of Education, in cooperation with each other, shall consult with, and provide direct assistance to, school districts to help them improve, simplify, and expedite the free and reduced price meal certification process and otherwise reduce the administrative burden on schools and school districts that results from such process.
(3) A school that serves lunch or breakfast to students and is eligible for special federal reimbursement under the Community Eligibility Provision, as provided by 7 C.F.R. Part 245, shall, to the greatest extent practicable, participate in, and maximize the receipt of federal resources available under, that special assistance alternative. Every school district in which there is at least one school that qualifies for the Community Eligibility Provision, but is not implementing it, shall report the reasons therefor, in writing, to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education, in the manner prescribed by those departments. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, a description of the specific impediments at the school district to implementing the program, the specific actions that could be taken to remove those impediments, and the specific steps required to successfully implement the program in the following school year.
b. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.
c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2022, c.104)
L.2018, c.26, s.1; amended 2022, c.104, s.13.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-15 - Findings, declarations relative to food, beverages sold to certain school pupils.

18A:33-15 Findings, declarations relative to food, beverages sold to certain school pupils.
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that obesity, which affects 61% of American adults, and childhood obesity, which affects up to 15% of American children between the ages of six and 17, are epidemics in the United States;
b. Congress has introduced the Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act (IMPACT Act) to address the overall concern with the obesity epidemic and, in particular, the need to educate youth about good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and the importance of physical activity;
c. the United States Surgeon General has issued a report entitled "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity," which lists the treatment and prevention of obesity as a national priority, and the United States Department of Agriculture issued a report to Congress in which it recognized that foods without regulated nutrition standards are low in nutrient density and are higher in fat, added sugar, and calories; and
d. health experts agree that one of the most effective ways to prevent obesity is to establish policies and programs that encourage children and adolescents to develop healthy eating habits that they can maintain throughout their lives.
L.2007,c.45,s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-16 - Regulation of items sold, served, given away on school property.

18A:33-16 Regulation of items sold, served, given away on school property.
2. a. As of September 2007, the following items shall not be served, sold or given away as a free promotion anywhere on school property at any time before the end of the school day, including items served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program:
(1) Foods of minimal nutritional value, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture;
(2) All food and beverage items listing sugar, in any form, as the first ingredient; and
(3) All forms of candy as defined by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
b. Schools shall reduce the purchase of any products containing trans fats beginning September 1, 2007.
c. As of September 2007, all snack and beverage items, sold or served anywhere on school property during the school day, including items sold in a la carte lines, vending machines, snack bars, school stores and fundraisers, or served in the reimbursable After School Snack Program, shall meet the following standards:
(1) Based on manufacturers' nutritional data or nutrient facts labels, no more than eight grams of total fat per serving, with the exception of nuts and seeds, and no more than two grams of saturated fat per serving;
(2) All beverages, other than milk containing two percent or less fat, or water, shall not exceed a 12-ounce portion size; and whole milk may not exceed an eight-ounce portion;
(3) In elementary schools, beverages shall be limited to milk, water or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices;
(4) In middle and high schools, at least 60 percent of all beverages offered, other than milk or water, must be 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice; and
(5) In middle and high schools, no more than 40 percent of all ice cream and frozen desserts shall be allowed to exceed the above standards for sugar, fat and saturated fat.
d. Food and beverages served during special school celebrations or during curriculum-related activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this section, with the exception of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.
e. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) Medically authorized special needs diets as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture;
(2) School nurses using foods of minimal nutritional value during the course of providing health care to individual students; or
(3) Special needs students whose Individual Education Plan indicates a particular diet.
L.2007,c.45,s.2.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-17 - Applicability to certain nonpublic schools.

18A:33-17 Applicability to certain nonpublic schools.
3. The provisions of this act shall apply to nonpublic schools that participate in the Child Nutrition Programs as defined by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
L.2007,c.45,s.3.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-18 - Rules, regulations; compliance monitoring.

18A:33-18 Rules, regulations; compliance monitoring.
4. The Secretary of Agriculture shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this act and shall monitor compliance with the provisions of this act.
L.2007,c.45,s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-19 - Nonpreemption of more stringent policies.

18A:33-19 Nonpreemption of more stringent policies.
5. Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit the board of education of a public school district or the governing board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school from establishing more stringent nutritional policies for students.
L.2007,c.45,s.5.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-20 - Public schools authorized to serve certain produce grown in community gardens.

18A:33-20 Public schools authorized to serve certain produce grown in community gardens.
1. a. As used in this section, "community garden" means public or private land upon which individuals have the opportunity to garden on pieces of land that they do not individually own.
b. Consistent with all other applicable laws, a school district may serve to students fresh produce that has been grown in a community garden, provided that:
(1) the soil in the community garden has been tested for contaminants and is safe for growing food for student consumption;
(2) water sources used for the community garden have been tested for contaminants and are safe for growing food for student consumption;
(3) the produce has been handled, stored, transported, and prepared safely and in accordance with applicable federal, State, and local health and sanitation requirements; and
(4) such other criteria as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture are met.
c. A school district and its employees shall be immune from any civil liability arising from good faith actions in the serving of produce from a community garden in accordance with the requirements of this act.
d. The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
L.2013, c.249, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-21a - Short title.

18A:33-21a Short title.
1. Section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21) and section 16 of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-21b1), shall be known and may be cited as the "Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act."
L.2020, c.29, s.1; amended 2022, c.104, s.15.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-21b1 - Information provided to parent, guardian.

18A:33-21b1 Information provided to parent, guardian.
16. a. At the beginning of each school year, or upon initial enrollment, in the case of a student who enrolls during the school year, a school district shall provide each student's parent or guardian with:
(1) information on the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program, including, but not limited to, information on the availability of free or reduced price meals for eligible students, information on the application and determination processes that are used to certify eligible students for subsidized school meals, and information on the rights that are available to students and their families under this section and section 1 of P.L.2015, c.15 (C.18A:33-21); and
(2) a school meals application form, as well as instructions for completing the application, and, as necessary, assistance in completing the application.
b. The school meals information and application provided to parents and guardians, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, shall:
(1) be communicated in a language that the parent or guardian understands;
(2) specify the limited purposes for which collected personal data may be used, as provided by subsection c. of this section; and
(3) be submitted to the parent or guardian either in writing or electronically. In the latter case, the school district shall use the usual means by which it communicates with parents and guardians electronically.
c. A school meals application that is completed by a parent or guardian shall be confidential, and shall not be used or shared by the student's school or school district, except as may be necessary to:
(1) determine whether a student identified in the application is eligible for free or reduced price school meals;
(2) determine whether the school or school district is required, by section 2 of P.L.2018, c.25 (C.18A:33-11.3) or by section 1 of P.L.2018, c.28 (C.18A:33-24), to establish a breakfast after the bell program, or to participate as a sponsor or site in the federal Summer Meals Service Program;
(3) ensure that the school receives appropriate reimbursement, from the State and federal governments, for meals provided to eligible students, free of charge, through a school lunch program, a school breakfast program, a breakfast after the bell program, a summer meals program, or an emergency meals distribution program; and
(4) facilitate school aid determinations under the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008," P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et seq.).
L.2022, c.104, s.16.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-21c - Provision of meals to homeless students.

18A:33-21c Provision of meals to homeless students.
4. The school district liaison for the education of homeless children shall coordinate with school district personnel to ensure that a homeless student receives free school meals and is monitored according to the school district's policies.
L.2020, c.29, s.4.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-21.1 - State required to pay difference between federal allocation and total cost of reduced price breakfast, lunch.

18A:33-21.1 State required to pay difference between federal allocation and total cost of reduced price breakfast, lunch.
1. a. Notwithstanding any other law, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, a public school student who is eligible for a reduced price breakfast under the federal School Breakfast Program or a reduced price lunch under the National School Lunch Program shall not be required to pay for any such reduced price breakfast or reduced price lunch.
b. The State shall pay the difference between the federal allocation for reduced price breakfasts and reduced price lunches and the total cost of the reduced price breakfasts and reduced price lunches that are served to public school students who are federally eligible for reduced price meals.
c. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations establishing the schedule for, and identifying the manner in which, State-level reimbursements are to be made pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
L.2019, c.445, s.1; amended 2022, c.104, s.17.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-22 - "Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund."

18A:33-22 "Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund."
1. a. There is hereby created in the Department of Agriculture a non-lapsing revolving fund to be known as the "Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund," which shall be held separate and apart from all other funds of the State. All monies appropriated annually by the Legislature, federal and other grants received by the State, and any other monies made available for the purposes of the fund shall be deposited in the fund.
Monies deposited in the fund shall be held in interest-bearing accounts in public depositories, as defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1970, c.236 (C.17:9-41), and may be invested or reinvested in such securities as are approved by the State Treasurer. Interest or other income earned on monies deposited in the fund shall be credited to the fund for use as set forth in subsection b. of this section for other monies in the fund.
b. Monies in the "Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund" shall be used by the Department of Agriculture to provide support and funding to child food and nutrition programs in the State, which may include:
(1) funding outreach and programmatic support by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, or community-based organizations;
(2) providing small grants to fu
(3) providing small grants to fund one-time startup or expansion costs of summer nutrition programs.
c. Funding shall be prioritized for award to districts or schools with the highest number of eligible students and lowest participation in the school breakfast program.
d. The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, may adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.
L.2017, c.132, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-23 - Notification relative to summer meals program.

18A:33-23 Notification relative to summer meals program.
1. a. Each school district in the State shall notify each student enrolled in the school district and the student's parent or guardian of the availability of, and criteria of eligibility for, the summer meals program and the locations in the school district where the summer meals are available. The school district shall provide this notification by distributing flyers provided by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to subsection c. of this section. The school district may also provide electronic notice of the information through the usual means by which the school district communicates with parents and students electronically.
b. Each nonpublic school in the State shall notify each student enrolled in the school and the student's parent or guardian of the availability of, and criteria of eligibility for, the summer meals program and the locations in the local school district in which the nonpublic school is located or the nonpublic school student resides where the summer meals are available. Each nonpublic school shall provide this notification by distributing flyers provided by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to subsection c. of this section. The school may also provide electronic notice of the information through the usual means by which the school communicates with parents and students electronically.
c. The Department of Agriculture shall develop and distribute flyers , no later than June 1 of the school year, to each school district and nonpublic school in the State to implement the requirements of subsections a. and b. of this section.
L.2017, c.387, s.1.
2023 New Jersey Revised Statutes › Title 18A - Education › Section 18A:33-24 - Implementation of Summer Food Service Program.

18A:33-24 Implementation of Summer Food Service Program.
1. a. Every school district in which 50 percent or more of the students enrolled in the school district on or before the last school day before October 16 of the preceding school year were federally eligible for free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program, shall:
(1) become a sponsor or site under the federal Summer Food Service Program; or
(2) apply for a waiver pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2018, c.28 (C.18A:33-26).
b. No later than one year after the date of enactment of P.L.2018, c.28 (C.18A:33-24 et seq.), a school district that is required to become a sponsor or site under the Summer Food Service Program, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, shall submit, to the Department of Agriculture, either an application to become a sponsor of the federal Summer Food Service Program or documentation showing that the school district will become a site under an existing and approved sponsor.
c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2022, c.104)
d. A school district that is subject to the requirements of this section shall become a sponsor of the federal Summer Food Service Program or a site under an existing and approved sponsor, no later than two years following the date of enactment of this section.
L.2018, c.28, s.1; amended 2022, c.104, s.18.