"Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act"; prohibits harassment or bullying of nonpublic school students and requires nonpublic schools to adopt anti-harassment and bullying policy.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Carter and 2 co-sponsors

Nonpublic schools must implement comprehensive anti-harassment and anti-bullying policies to prevent harassment of nonpublic students and provide clear reporting and response proce

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

Summary of Bill A 5254 (New Jersey, 222nd Session) – “Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act”

Purpose and intent

The bill is designed to protect nonpublic school students from harassment and bullying.

It requires nonpublic schools to adopt and implement anti-harassment and anti-bullying policies to ensure a safe educational environment for all students, regardless of school sector.

Key provisions and changes

Prohibition of harassment or bullying: The bill explicitly prohibits harassment or bullying of nonpublic school students. While the exact definitions are not provided here, the act establishes a clear statutory standard against such conduct within nonpublic school settings.

Policy adoption by nonpublic schools: All nonpublic schools would be required to adopt comprehensive anti-harassment and anti-bullying policies. This includes:

Establishing definitions of harassment and bullying.
Outlining prohibited behaviors and practices.
Providing reporting mechanisms for students, parents, and staff.
Specifying procedures for investigating and addressing incidents.

Policy components: Although not enumerated in the summary, typical policy requirements would cover:

Roles and responsibilities of school staff and administrators.
Department/board oversight or review processes.
Training requirements for faculty and staff.
Written reporting forms and timelines for responses.
Procedures to support victims and address offender behavior, including possible disciplinary measures.

Compliance and accountability: The bill would create expectations for nonpublic schools to maintain and enforce these policies, potentially involving periodic reviews, compliance checks, or coordination with oversight bodies (e.g., the state Department of Education or corresponding regulatory entities).

Who would be affected

Nonpublic schools: Institutions operating outside the public school system would be directly responsible for adopting and implementing the anti-harassment and anti-bullying policies.

Students in nonpublic schools: All students would benefit from standardized protections against harassment and bullying.

Parents and guardians: They would gain clearer avenues for reporting concerns and understanding the school’s anti-bullying procedures.

School staff and administrators: They would have defined expectations, reporting procedures, and enforcement responsibilities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative status: The bill is introduced with co-sponsors Linda Carter, Andrea Katz, and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, indicating initial bipartisan sponsorship.

Implementation timeline: The summary does not specify a phase-in period, but typical legislation of this type may include an effective date and a transition period for nonpublic schools to develop and adopt policies.

Enforcement: The bill’s mechanisms for oversight, penalties for non-compliance (if any), and methods of monitoring adherence are not detailed in the provided summary.

Notes for readers

This summary focuses on the substantive aims: broad prohibition of harassment/bullying of nonpublic school students and mandatory policy adoption by nonpublic schools.

For a complete understanding, readers should review the bill’s text to confirm precise definitions of harassment and bullying, policy requirements, reporting and investigation procedures, enforcement provisions, and any fiscal implications.