Urges Attorney General and Department of Education to regularly update "Law Enforcement Directive No. 2007-1" and "School Safety and Security Manual: Best Practices Guidelines."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Fantasia

The bill urges regular updates by the Attorney General and Department of Education to key school safety guidance to reflect current best practices.

Summary of AR 140 (Session 222) — New Jersey

Purpose and intent

AR 140 urges the Attorney General and the Department of Education to regularly update two key guidance documents related to school safety and law enforcement coordination:
- Law Enforcement Directive No. 2007-1
- School Safety and Security Manual: Best Practices Guidelines

The resolution seeks ongoing, periodic updates to these documents to reflect current best practices, evolving standards, and emerging needs in school safety and law enforcement interactions within the state.

Key provisions

Periodic updates requested: The bill calls for regular, ongoing updates rather than infrequent revisions to the two referenced guidance documents.

Responsible entities: The updates are to be undertaken by:

The New Jersey Attorney General
The New Jersey Department of Education

Contents and scope (implied): While the bill does not detail specific substantive changes, the emphasis is on ensuring that directives and best practices reflect contemporary approaches to school safety, threat assessment, de-escalation, communication with schools, emergency response coordination, and related topics.

Affected parties and stakeholders

State agencies: Attorney General’s Office and Department of Education would implement and publish updated guidance.

Schools and school districts: SchoolSafety-related practices and protocols would be updated, potentially affecting district policies, training, and compliance requirements.

Law enforcement partners: Local and state law enforcement agencies coordinating with schools would align with updated directives and guidelines.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative action: The resolution itself urges, rather than mandates, updates. It expresses legislative intent and sets a policy expectation for regular review and revision.

Sponsorship: Co-sponsor listed as Dawn Fantasia.

Status indicators (implied): As a resolution, it serves to guide executive action and advocacy rather than establish new statutory requirements or mandatory funding. It does not itself create new regulatory obligations but signals priority for updated guidance documents.

Potential impact

Improved alignment and modernization: Regular updates can help ensure school safety practices reflect current threats, technology, and evidence-based approaches.

Consistency across districts: Updated directives and manuals can promote standardized expectations for school safety protocols and law enforcement interactions.

Resource implications: Depending on the scope of updates, there may be a need for ongoing administrative attention, potential training, and dissemination to school districts.

Note: The summary focuses on the substantive goals and likely effects based on the bill’s language as stated. If the text includes additional specifics (e.g., exact update cadence, funding, or specific content changes), those would refine the above interpretation.