Text of NJ S 2648 (2022)

SENATE, No. 2648 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 220th LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED MAY 16, 2022 Sponsored by: Senator EDWARD DURR District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem) SYNOPSIS Prohibits school districts from incorporating instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in grades kindergarten through six; requires consent from parents or guardians for students in grades seven through 12 for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. An Act concerning public school curriculum and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. a. A school district shall not include, as part of a course of instruction, information on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in grades kindergarten through six as part of the school district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. b. A school district shall not provide instruction for students in grades seven through 12 that includes information on sexual orientation or gender identity without receiving prior written consent from the student's parent or guardian. Any student whose parent or guardian does not provide prior written consent shall be excused from that portion of the course where such instruction is provided and no penalties as to credit or graduation shall result therefrom. 2. a. A parent or guardian whose child participated in a course of instruction that includes information on sexual orientation or gender identity in violation of section 1 of this act may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief. b. If a school district or employee of a school district knowingly violates the provisions of section 1 of this act, the Office of the Attorney General may seek an injunction against the school district or the employee of the school district. 3. The Commissioner of Education may withhold State funds from a school district that knowingly violates the provisions of section 1 of this act until the commissioner finds that the school district is no longer in violation of this section. 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment. STATEMENT This bill prohibits school districts from incorporating instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in grades kindergarten through six. Under the bill, any student in grades seven through 12 whose parent or guardian does not provide prior written consent to participate in a course that includes information on sexual orientation or gender identity will be excused from that portion of the course without penalty. Also under the bill, a parent or guardian whose child participated in a course that includes information on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades kindergarten through six, or grades seven through 12 without prior written consent, may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief. If a school district or employee of a school district knowingly violates the provisions of this section, the Office of the Attorney General may seek an injunction against the school district or the employee of the school district. The Commissioner of Education may withhold State funds from a school district that knowingly violates the provisions of this bill.