"Safe Mobility Education Act"; requires public school instruction on pedestrian, cycling, and motor vehicle safety.

A1539

ASSEMBLY, No. 1539

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK

District 18 (Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

���� "Safe Mobility Education Act"; requires
public school instruction on pedestrian, cycling, and motor vehicle safety.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning instruction on safe mobility and
supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� This act shall be known
and may be cited as the �Safe Mobility Education Act.�

���� 2.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:

���� a.��� Pedestrian and cyclist
injuries remain a significant cause of preventable harm to children and adults.

���� b.��� Electric scooters and
electric bicycles are increasingly popular, but require responsible use and
understanding of rules to ensure safety.

���� c.��� Education on safety
rules and practices can significantly reduce accidents and save lives.

���� d.��� Introducing
age-appropriate safety education from an early age fosters a culture of
responsibility and compliance with State laws.

���� 3.��� a.� The State Board of
Education shall, concurrent with each update to the New Jersey Student Learning
Standards required pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-46),
adopt New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical
Education pertaining to pedestrian, cycling, and motor vehicle safety.

���� b.��� The content of the New
Jersey Student Learning Standards required pursuant to subsection a. of this
section, as age-appropriate, shall include, but not be limited to, the
following information:

���� (1)� basics on pedestrian
safety;

���� (2)� the importance of
visibility and wearing appropriate equipment, such as a helmet and bright
clothing;

���� (3)� the rules of the road for
bicycles, including proper hand signals, helmet use, and bicycle maintenance;

���� (4)� safe operation of
bicycles and scooters, including electric bicycles and scooters;

���� (5)� the rights and
responsibilities of cyclists and pedestrians under State law;

���� (6)� statutory and regulatory
requirements for operating a motor vehicle; and

���� (7)� the consequences
associated with violating State law, including the imposition of fines and
motor vehicle violation penalty points on driving records.

���� c.��� In the first full school
year following the State board�s adoption of New Jersey Student Learning
Standards pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a board of education shall
include age-appropriate instruction on pedestrian, cycling, and motor vehicle
safety in an appropriate place of the curriculum of students in grades
kindergarten through 12 as part of the school district�s implementation of the
New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical
Education.

���� 4.��� a.� The Commissioner of
Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, shall
develop a safe mobility education professional development module to ensure the
effective delivery of the instruction required pursuant to section 3 of this
act.

���� b.��� A teaching staff member
who provides instruction required pursuant to section 3 of this act shall
satisfactorily complete the safe mobility education professional development
module developed pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the
�Safe Mobility Education Act.�� The bill requires the State Board of Education
to, at the next review and update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards
(NJSLS), adopt NJSLS in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education pertaining
to pedestrian, cycling, and motor vehicle safety.� The bill sets forth certain
information, as age-appropriate, that is to be included in the content adopted
by the State board pursuant to the bill.� A board of education, in the first
full school year following the State board�s adoption of NJSLS pursuant to the
provisions of the bill, is required to include the instruction in an
appropriate place of the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through
12 as part of the district�s implementation of the NJSLS in Comprehensive
Health and Physical Education.

���� The bill directs the
Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of
Transportation, to develop a safe mobility education professional development
module to ensure the effective delivery of the instruction required pursuant to
the provisions of the bill.� A teaching staff member who provides instruction
on the required curriculum is to satisfactorily complete the safe mobility
education professional development module.