Bill Text: NJ S2367 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Extends validity of and eliminates issuance fee for temporary instructional certificate issued to military spouse; requires expedited processing of military spouse application for NJ instructional certificate and eliminates fee to obtain certificate.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-08 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S2367 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S2367-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Extends validity of and eliminates issuance fee for temporary instructional certificate issued to military spouse; requires expedited processing of military spouse application for NJ instructional certificate and eliminates fee to obtain certificate.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning teacher certification for military spouses and amending and supplementing P.L.2013, c.68.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2013, c.68 (C.18A:26-2.14) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. As used in this section, "nonresident military spouse" means a person (1) whose spouse is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is the subject of a military transfer to New Jersey, and (2) who has left employment in another state to accompany such spouse to New Jersey.
b. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall establish a procedure for the issuance of a temporary instructional certificate to a nonresident military spouse that authorizes a board of education to employ the nonresident military spouse as a teacher if, at the time of application, the nonresident military spouse:
(1) Holds a valid and current license or certificate to teach issued by another state for which there is an equivalent and currently-issued New Jersey grade level or subject endorsement; and
(2) Demonstrates competency in teaching in a manner determined by the State Board of Examiners, such as having taught successfully under the out-of-State license or certificate for at least three years, as documented by a letter of experience from a past supervisor or authorized district representative; having met the New Jersey grade point average requirement for an instructional certificate under State Board of Education regulations; or having completed continuing education units [; and].
(3) [Pays any applicable fees required by the State Board of Examiners.] (Deleted by amendment P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
c. A temporary instructional certificate issued under this section shall be valid for [180] 365 days and may be extended at the discretion of the State Board of Examiners for another [180] 365 days on application of the holder of the temporary instructional certificate. The temporary instructional certificate shall authorize the nonresident military spouse to be employed as a teacher by a board of education on a temporary basis while completing any specific additional requirements for an instructional certificate in New Jersey that were not required in the other state in which the nonresident military spouse holds a license or certificate to teach.
d. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a nonresident military spouse from obtaining a New Jersey certificate of eligibility, certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, or standard certificate under State Board of Education regulations, including the regulation for interstate reciprocity.
e. 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 section. The State board shall not require a nonresident military spouse to pay a fee for the issuance of a temporary instructional certificate.
(cf: P.L.2013, c.68, s.1)
2. (New section) The Department of Education shall establish procedures to expedite the processing of an application submitted by a nonresident military spouse, as defined in subsection a. of section 1 of P.L.2013, c.68 (C.18A:26-2.14), for a New Jersey instructional certificate. The Department of Education and the State Board of Examiners shall not require a nonresident military spouse to pay a fee for the issuance of an instructional certificate. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the issuance of an instructional certificate to a nonresident military spouse who has not met the applicable State requirements for the certificate.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that a temporary instructional certificate for a nonresident military spouse is to be valid for 365 days, with an option for an extension by the State Board of Examiners for an additional 365 days. The bill also prohibits the State board from charging a nonresident military spouse a fee for the issuance of a temporary instructional certificate.
The bill further requires the Department of Education to establish procedures to expedite the processing of an application submitted by a nonresident military spouse for a New Jersey instructional certificate. The department and the State Board of Examiners are prohibited from requiring a nonresident military spouse to pay a fee for the issuance of the instructional certificate.
