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A 5212

Relates to allowing judges more options for when to impose bail or commit the principal to the custody of the sheriff

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe DeStefano and 2 co-sponsors

Expands and coordinates social services access for low-income county college students by strengthening cooperation among colleges, DHS, social services, and workforce partners.

REFERRED TO CODES
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Bill Summary · A 5212

Summary — Assembly Bill A5212 (1R / As reported Feb. 20, 2025)

Note: the bill title in the submission header (relating to bail) appears to be incorrect. The legislative documents for A5212 address expansion of social services supports at county colleges in New Jersey. This summary reflects the bill text, committee statements, and fiscal notes for A5212 (1R).

Purpose

To expand and coordinate access to social services for low‑income county college students by strengthening collaboration among the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC), county colleges, county boards of social services, the Department of Human Services (DHS), local workforce development boards, and community organizations.

Key provisions

  • NJCCC responsibilities

    • Collaborate with each county college to identify gaps in meeting basic student needs.
    • In consultation with DHS, provide information to designated county‑college representatives on available social services and enrollment procedures.
    • May facilitate partnerships between county colleges and State agencies, county social services boards, or community/nonprofit organizations to increase student enrollment in benefits and, where feasible, enable direct on‑campus service provision.

  • County colleges / county boards of social services

    • Each county college must work with a county board of social services representative to provide direct assistance to students seeking social supports.
    • Each county board must designate an employee to collaborate with the college, ensure application documents meet requirements, and implement strategies to streamline application processes for students.

  • Division of Family Development (DHS)

    • Required to work with local workforce development boards and community college staff to help staff better assist students applying for SNAP, TANF, Childcare Subsidy, and other supports.

  • Workforce partnerships

    • Each county college and local workforce development board shall jointly establish partnerships with workforce training providers, economic development organizations, and community/nonprofit organizations — but only if such partnerships do not already exist — to identify unemployed/underemployed residents who may benefit from county college enrollment and career pathways.

  • Effective date: immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Primary: low‑income and food‑insecure students enrolled at county colleges.
  • Institutional: New Jersey Council of County Colleges, county colleges, county boards of social services, DHS (Division of Family Development), local workforce development boards, and participating community/nonprofit workforce partners.
  • Potentially impacts county and State budgets depending on implementation.

Fiscal impact

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates potential but indeterminate increases in State and local expenditures to the extent entities must newly implement the bill’s requirements.
    • Examples cited: hiring additional county social workers (average NJ social worker salary ~$66k–$82k) or one FTE at the Division of Family Development (estimated total salary + fringe ≈ $126,000).
    • OLS notes existing NJCCC initiatives (e.g., “Community to Opportunity”) that overlap with bill goals, which could reduce incremental costs.

Procedural status & sponsors

  • Introduced: Jan 16, 2025 (referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee)
  • Committee actions: Reported by Assembly Higher Education; Reported with amendments by Assembly Appropriations (Feb 20, 2025); referred to Codes (Feb 12, 2025)
  • Sponsors (version reported by Appropriations): Assemblywoman Heather Simmons; cosponsors include Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Lisa Swain; additional cosponsors listed in committee report.
  • Related/companion: S4010; S459; prior‑session bills A9576, A7772, A6339.

Sources: bill text (1R), Assembly committee statements, and OLS fiscal estimates (Feb. 24 & Mar. 17, 2025).

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

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