WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 4762

Relates to establishing state disaster emergency requirements for homeless shelters

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a one-time $5 million grant program for eligible NJ districts that do not yet offer free, full-day kindergarten to implement it.

REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4762

S 4762 — Summary

Note on title vs. content: The bill’s title suggests disaster emergency requirements for homeless shelters, but the introduced language provided here establishes a one-time grant program to support free, full-day kindergarten in certain New Jersey districts. The summary below reflects the introduced provisions.

Overview

  • Purpose: Establish a one-time grant program to help school districts that do not currently offer free, full-day kindergarten implement such programs.
  • State role: New Jersey Department of Education administers the grant program; a total of $5 million is appropriated from the General Fund.
  • Immediate effect: The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Key Provisions

1) Grant Program Establishment
- The Commissioner of Education must create a one-time grant program to support implementation of free, full-day kindergarten in districts that, at the time of application, do not offer the program.

2) Application Requirements
- Eligible districts must submit an application to the commissioner, in a form and manner determined by the commissioner.
- Applications must include:
- A plan detailing how the district will implement free, full-day kindergarten.
- An estimate of the costs associated with implementing the program.

3) Funding and Distribution
- Grants are contingent on the commissioner’s approval of the district’s application.
- Total funding is capped by the appropriation (see Section 2).
- Grants are to be evenly distributed among the following districts:
- Moorestown Township Public School District
- Haddonfield School District
- Metuchen Public School District
- Monroe Township School District
- Millstone Township School District
- School District Of The Chathams
- Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District
- Hillsborough Township Public School District
- Cranford Public School District
- Westfield Public School District

4) Appropriation
- Section 2 appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Education for the program.

5) Effective Date
- Section 3 provides that the act takes effect immediately.

Eligible Districts (as identified in the bill)

  • Moorestown Township Public School District
  • Haddonfield School District
  • Metuchen Public School District
  • Monroe Township School District
  • Millstone Township School District
  • School District Of The Chathams
  • Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District
  • Hillsborough Township Public School District
  • Cranford Public School District
  • Westfield Public School District

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced in the Senate on October 27, 2025; referred to the Senate Education Committee. Earlier records show referral to Social Services.
  • Legislative actions show companion/related bills (A 5909; S 8573, S 3888, S 2753; A 4469, etc.), indicating cross-reference opportunities across sessions.
  • If approved, districts must complete the application and plan; funding would be distributed evenly if approved and within the $5 million appropriation.

Potential Impact

  • Direct beneficiaries: Students and families in the ten eligible districts lacking free, full-day kindergarten.
  • District-level impact: Accelerates implementation of full-day kindergarten; requires districts to develop a concrete plan and cost estimates to qualify for funding.
  • Systemic implications: Addresses disparities in access to free kindergarten opportunities across districts; may influence budgeting and staffing in participating districts.

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

Sign in to ask a question.