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S 4809

Relates to captive insurance for commuter vans, black cars, ambulettes and paratransit vehicles, and small school buses, pre-arranged for-hire vehicles, and accessible vehicles

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey and 15 co-sponsors

The bill broadens eligibility for the Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritage by replacing Master’s/leadership requirements with a general knowledge and experience standard.

PRINT NUMBER 4809B
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Bill Summary · S 4809

Summary — S.4809 (Print 4809B) — Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritage

Status: Introduced Nov 6, 2025; reported favorably by Senate Education Committee Nov 10, 2025 (Print No. 4809B)
Statutory change: Amends Section 2 of P.L.2019, c.321 (C.18A:4‑48)
Note: Although some bill metadata lists an unrelated insurance title, the text of S.4809 amends membership requirements for the Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritage.

Purpose

To revise membership eligibility requirements for public appointees to the Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritage by removing specific Master’s‑degree and leadership-service mandates and replacing them with a broader “knowledge and experience” standard.

Key provisions

  • Maintains the commission composition: 21 members total — the Commissioner of Education and the chair of the Presidents' Council executive board (ex officio) plus 19 public members.
  • Appointment allocation remains:
    • 9 public members appointed by the Governor
    • 5 by the President of the Senate
    • 5 by the Speaker of the General Assembly
  • Removes prior specific education/leadership requirements:
    • Eliminates requirement that certain appointees hold a Master’s degree in Latino/Hispanic studies or culture (previously: 4 of Governor’s 9 appointees and 1 of each legislative appointee group).
    • Eliminates the requirement that public members have “served prominently as spokespersons for, or as leaders of, organizations” in the Latino/Hispanic heritage community or have similar specified experience.
  • Replaces these requirements with a clearer, broader standard: public members must have “knowledge and experience in Latino or Hispanic studies or education.”
  • Retains other provisions from P.L.2019, c.321:
    • At least one-half of the public members must be of Latino or Hispanic descent.
    • Appointees should provide broad regional representation and ethnic diversity, serve three‑year staggered terms (with specific initial staggering), serve without compensation but with expense reimbursement, elect a chair annually, and the commission may appoint an executive director.
  • Effective date: immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Individuals eligible for appointment to the commission: the change broadens eligibility by removing advanced‑degree and formal leadership prerequisites and emphasizing practical knowledge/experience.
  • The Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritage: may gain a larger, more diverse candidate pool and increased flexibility in appointments.
  • Appointing authorities (Governor, legislative leaders): receive expanded discretion in selections.

Legislative/procedural notes

  • Introduced in the Senate (11/06/2025); referred to Senate Education Committee and reported out favorably (11/10/2025).
  • Multiple print/Amend/committee actions recorded in 2025 (Prints 4809A, 4809B; referrals to Insurance, amendments and recommitments).
  • Sponsors include Senator Leroy Comrie (primary) and multiple cosponsors; companion Assembly bills: A5989 and A5113. Prior-session related bills noted (S8432, S4862).

Potential impact

  • Low fiscal impact (no new compensation).
  • Policy impact: broadens the pool of eligible commissioners, potentially increasing representational, geographic, and experiential diversity on the commission while moving away from formal credential requirements.

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

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