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Bill

S 4548

Permits dentists to administer vaccinations against human papillomavirus

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson and 1 co-sponsor

Allows automatic immediate suspension for students and employees at public colleges in NJ charged with bias intimidation during protests; possible expulsion or termination if guilt

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · S 4548

Summary of S 4548

Note on discrepancy: The bill title given (Permits dentists to administer vaccinations against human papillomavirus) does not align with the text provided for the introduced version, which concerns suspension and expulsion for bias intimidation within public colleges and universities. The summary below reflects the introduced version’s content and status as of the legislative record provided.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to establish automatic suspension rules for students and employees of public institutions of higher education in New Jersey who are charged with bias intimidation connected to protests against a religious group or on the grounds of a religious facility. The stated goal is to address conduct during protests and impose interim disciplinary actions pending resolution of the case.

Key provisions (Introduced version)

  • For students:
    • If a student at a public higher education institution is charged with bias intimidation under N.J.S.2C:16-1 for actions during a protest against a religious group or at a religious facility, the student shall be subjected to immediate academic suspension.
    • The suspension lasts until the case is disposed of at trial, the complaint is dismissed, or the prosecution is terminated.
    • If the student is found guilty, the student shall be expelled from the institution.
  • For employees (including faculty):
    • If an employee is charged with bias intimidation in the same protest-related context, the employee shall be immediately suspended from duties without pay, pending disposition of the case.
    • If found guilty, the employee’s employment at the institution shall be terminated.
  • Effective date: The act shall take effect immediately.

Who would be affected

  • Public institutions of higher education in New Jersey.
  • Students enrolled at these institutions who are charged with bias intimidation in protest-related actions.
  • Employees of these institutions (including faculty) charged with bias intimidation in similar contexts.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status history and actions:
    • 2025-02-06: Referred to the Senate Higher Education Committee
    • 2025-03-04: 1st Report CAL.455
    • 2025-03-05: 2nd Report CAL
    • 2025-03-10: Advanced to Third Reading
    • 2025-06-02: Introduced in the Senate
    • 2025-06-11: Senate PASSED; delivered to Assembly; referred to Assembly Higher Education
  • Current status (as listed): Referred to Assembly Higher Education after Senate passage on 6/11/2025, with ongoing committee consideration.

Related bills

  • S 7355 (prior-session)
  • A 3892 (companion bills)

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Adds or reinforces interim suspension authority for public colleges and universities in handling bias intimidation cases tied to protests.
  • Creates a potential due-process dynamic by imposing immediate suspension without a trial or final adjudication.
  • Could have significant effects on students’ academic progress and on employees’ employment status during pending prosecutions.
  • The discrepancy between the stated bill title (HPV vaccination) and the introduced content suggests an editing or labeling error that should be clarified in committee deliberations.

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

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