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A 5630

Relates to extensions of order of protection

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Sempolinski

NJ A 5630 mandates biennial LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for K-12 educators, licensed health professionals, and all state workers, effective six months after enactment.

REFERRED TO CODES
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Bill Summary · A 5630

Summary of New Jersey A 5630

Overview

  • Bill: A 5630
  • Title: Relates to extensions of order of protection (note: the introduced text in this version centers on LGBTQ+ cultural competency training)
  • Purpose (as introduced): Expand LGBTQ+ cultural competency training requirements across education, healthcare, and state employment; amend related statutory provisions to require biennial training and related educational guidelines.
  • Status: Referred to Codes (with mention of Regulated Professions in committee actions)
  • Introduced: May 8, 2025
  • Primary Sponsors: Jessica Ramirez and Joseph Sempolinski
  • Related bills (prior-session): A 8815, A 5740, A 8324, A 5151

Key Provisions

1) Education: LGBTQ+ competency for K-12 educators (amendment to P.L.2021, c.32)
- Adds a mandatory biennial LGBTQ+ training module for K–12 educators, to be provided by the Commissioner of Education.
- Module topics include:
- LGBTQ+ identities and terminology
- Creating inclusive classrooms
- Responding to bullying and bias in the classroom
- Supporting LGBTQ+ students’ mental health
- Builds on existing diversity and inclusion instruction required since the 2021-2022 school year.
- The Commissioner must provide a required training module in addition to current diversity/inclusion instruction and supply sample learning activities and resources.

2) Health care professionals: Mandatory LGBTQ+ cultural competency training
- New Section: Licensed health care professionals under Title 45 must complete a biennial LGBTQ+ cultural competency training.
- Topics include:
- LGBTQ+ identities and terminology
- Creating inclusive environments in healthcare settings
- Responding to bias
- Supporting LGBTQ+ patients’ mental health

3) State employees: Biennial LGBTQ+ training for all state workers
- New Section: All part-time, full-time, and contract state employees must complete a biennial LGBTQ+ cultural competency training program administered by the State Ethics Commission.
- At a minimum, employees must acknowledge completion of a briefing on LGBTQ+ cultural competency applicable to their employment category.
- Training format and content are determined by the training officer of the State Ethics Commission and approved by the Commission (per governing statute).
- Core topics include:
- LGBTQ+ identities and terminology
- Creating an inclusive workplace
- Responding to bias
- Supporting LGBTQ+ mental health in the workplace

4) Effective date
- The act would take effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment (i.e., six months post-enactment).

Affected Groups and Impacts

  • K–12 Educators: Required biennial LGBTQ+ competency Training; implications for professional development schedules and district budget planning.
  • Health Care Professionals (Title 45): Biennial LGBTQ+ training, potentially affecting licensure/certification processes and workplace policies.
  • State Employees (part-time, full-time, contract): Biennial training mandated by the State Ethics Commission; requires compliance tracking and potential adjustments to onboarding and ongoing ethics/cultural competency programs.

Implementation & Timelines

  • Education module development and provision: to be determined by the Commissioner of Education; sample activities to be provided.
  • Health care and state-employee trainings: to be implemented on a biennial cycle, with oversight and format determined by respective authorities (Health Department/State Ethics Commission).
  • Enactment timing: six months after enactment for all provisions.

Notes

  • The bill’s stated purpose and scope focus on LGBTQ+ cultural competency rather than its indicated title about extensions of orders of protection. This summary reflects the content as introduced, including training requirements across education, healthcare, and state employment.

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

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