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A 4238

Adjusts the compensation of formerly incarcerated individuals who were unjustly convicted

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Vivian Cook and 7 co-sponsors

Allows districts with contracted security to permit armed officers to carry firearms in school buildings or grounds if authorized by state law, effective immediately.

REFERRED TO CORRECTION
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Bill Summary · A 4238

Bill Summary — A 4238

Note on title vs. content: The bill’s stated title—“Adjusts the compensation of formerly incarcerated individuals who were unjustly convicted”—does not align with the text of the introduced version, which addresses school security and firearm allowances for security personnel. The following summary reflects the introduced content as published, with a note on the apparent discrepancy.

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 4238
  • Introduced: May 2, 2024
  • Status: Referred to Correction
  • Primary sponsor: Brian Cunningham
  • Cosponsors: Alicia Hyndman; Dana Levenberg; Erik Dilan; Eddie Gibbs; Latrice Walker; Vivian Cook; David Weprin
  • Related bills: S 1683 (companion), S 7174 (companions), A 5344 (prior-session)

Purpose and intent

  • The introduced text would allow, rather than prohibit, armed security presence in public schools under certain conditions. Specifically, if a school district contracts for school security services with:
    • an active or retired law enforcement officer (including Safe Schools Resource Officer or Class Three Special Law Enforcement Officer),
    • or a security officer registered under the Security Officer Registration Act, the district may not prohibit that officer from carrying a firearm in school buildings or on school grounds in the performance of their security duties, provided the officer is authorized under State law to carry such a firearm.
  • Rationale presented in the bill’s explanatory language centers on addressing safety concerns following school shooting incidents and preventing districts from imposing restrictions that bar armed security personnel from carrying firearms while on duty.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Amends applicable law to prohibit a school district from restricting an armed security officer (as defined above) from carrying a firearm in school buildings or on school grounds while performing security duties, if the officer is authorized to carry under State law.
  • Section 2: Effective date—immediate upon enactment.

Affected parties and impact

  • Affected entities:
    • School districts that contract for school security services
    • Active or retired law enforcement officers serving as security personnel (including SROs and Class Three officers)
    • Security officers registered under the Security Officer Registration Act
  • Potential impacts:
    • Removal of restrictions on carrying firearms for contracted security personnel while on district property, subject to state-law authorization
    • Increased authority for districts to deploy armed security personnel in schools
    • Possible safety and training considerations for districts implementing armed security provisions

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Immediate (Section 2 states it takes effect immediately upon enactment)
  • Legislative path: Introduced in the Assembly on May 2, 2024; referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee; later listed as REFERRED TO CORRECTION on January 31, 2025 (duplicate entry noted)

Additional notes

  • The bill’s introduced text does not address compensation for formerly incarcerated individuals, despite the title suggesting a different subject. If you are seeking details on compensation provisions for unjustly convicted individuals, this bill as introduced appears not to include them.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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