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A 5779

Excludes from federal adjusted gross income the amount of any service award, benefit or allowance paid to a duly enrolled member of an auxiliary police force

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Danny Norber

Establishes a time-limited Chronic Absenteeism Task Force to study causes, including pandemic effects, and issue a final report with recommendations to reduce absenteeism.

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Bill Summary · A 5779

Summary — A5779 (reprinted as amended 6/16/2025)

Status: Reported out of Assembly Education Committee with amendments (6/16/2025); substituted by S3776 (2R) (6/30/2025). Introduced: 6/12/2025. Primary sponsor: Asm. Daniel Norber. Companion: S3776.

Purpose

Establishes the "Chronic Absenteeism Task Force" to assess chronic absenteeism in New Jersey public schools, identify root causes (including pandemic-related effects), review best practices, and recommend actions for schools, districts, and the Legislature to reduce chronic absenteeism.

Key provisions

  • Creates a time‑limited Chronic Absenteeism Task Force that must:
    • Compare current and pre‑pandemic absenteeism data.
    • Analyze root causes (barriers to attendance, school aversion, disengagement, misconceptions about absences).
    • Examine the role of mental health and school climate.
    • Analyze effects of absences due to COVID‑19 exposure and student discipline policies.
    • Research and recommend best practices used in other states.
    • Recommend effective family‑engagement strategies to improve attendance.
  • Deliverable: a final report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature no later than six months after organization.
  • Sunset: the task force expires 30 days after issuing its final report.

Membership and appointments

  • Total members (as amended): 20
    • Commissioner of Education (or designee).
    • Four public members with relevant expertise appointed by the Senate President, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the Assembly, and Assembly Minority Leader.
    • 15 public members appointed by the Governor representing the education community. These include representatives or recommended appointees from:
    • State Board of Education;
    • New Jersey Education Association (2);
    • American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (2);
    • New Jersey School Boards Association;
    • New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (2);
    • New Jersey Association of School Administrators (2);
    • Statewide Parent Advocacy Network;
    • New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association (selection clarified by committee amendment);
    • Jobs for America's Graduates New Jersey (new by amendment);
    • Princeton Area Community Foundation (new by amendment);
    • Garden State Coalition of Schools.
  • Appointments to be made within 30 days of the act’s effective date; task force must organize within 30 days of appointments. Members serve without compensation (expense reimbursement permitted).

Administrative support

Department of Education will provide clerical, stenographic, administrative and professional staff support; the task force may use other state and local agency staff as available.

Who is affected / potential impact

  • Directly: appointees, Department of Education staff, and state policymakers.
  • Indirectly: school districts, educators, students and families — the task force’s recommendations could inform district practices, state guidance, and future legislation aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism (a noted problem: statewide chronic absenteeism rose from 10.6% in 2018–19 to 16.6% in 2022–23).

Timeline / procedural notes

  • Final report due within six months of organization; task force terminates 30 days after report issuance.
  • The Assembly committee amendments expanded membership to 20 and added two recommended seats (Jobs for America’s Graduates NJ and Princeton Area Community Foundation) and clarified charter school representative selection.

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

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