Establishes Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools.

A2314

ASSEMBLY, No. 2314

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman LUANNE M. PETERPAUL

District 11 (Monmouth)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+
Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act

establishing the
Advisory
Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools
and
supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.�

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

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

���� a.���� Students who are l
esbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
questioning, intersex, or asexual, or who otherwise are not heterosexual or
cisgender (�LGBTQIA+�) face unique challenges at school, including bullying,
discrimination, and lack of access to supportive resources.

����
b.��� National data shows that LGBTQIA+ students face higher rates of
bullying and harassment at school, are suspended nationwide at a higher rate,
and are four times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their
non-LGBTQIA+ peers.

���� c.���� These
challenges have a profound impact on LGBTQIA+ students� mental health, academic
performance, and overall wellbeing.

���� d.��� Like
all students, LGBTQIA+ students have the right to a safe, supportive learning
environment that is free from discrimination and harassment, and that provides
equal access to educational opportunities, regardless of their sexual
orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

���� e.���� In
2019, New Jersey became one of the first states to require that students learn
about the political, economic, and social contributions of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender figures.

���� f.���� On
June 17, 2024, Governor Murphy signed
Executive Order No. 361
establishing an Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and
Inclusion in Schools, which is to be composed of executive branch
representatives and members appointed by the Governor.� This commission is to
provide advice to the executive branch to support the Department of Education�s
efforts to advance LGBTQIA+ equity in schools.

���� g.��� The Legislature strongly
supports the executive branch�s commitment to ensuring inclusive school
environments for LGBTQIA+ students.

���� h.��� It is altogether fitting
and proper to establish a permanent commission to study these issues to ensure
LGBTQIA+ students are shielded from discrimination in New Jersey�s schools.

���� 2.��� a.� The
Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and
Inclusion in Schools
is created and established in the Executive Branch
of the State Government.� For the purposes of complying with the provisions of
Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the
commission is allocated within the Department of Education, but notwithstanding
this allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or
control by the department or any board or officer thereof.��

���� b.��� The commission shall
consist of 25 members as follows:

���� (1)��
the
Commissioners of Education, Children and Families, Health, and Human Services,
ex officio, or their designees;

���� (2)�� the Attorney General, ex
officio, or a designee;

���� (3)��
the
former chairperson of the Anti-Bullying Task Force appointed pursuant to
P.L.2019, c.179;

���� (4)�� four public members
appointed by the President of the Senate and four public members appointed by
the Speaker of the General Assembly, all of whom shall have demonstrated
expertise in issues relating to the work of the commission; and

���� (5)�� 11 public members
appointed by the Governor, including: two representatives from the New Jersey
Education Association; one representative from the New Jersey School Boards
Association; one representative from the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors
Association; one representative from the New Jersey School Counselor
Association; one representative from the New Jersey Association of School
Librarians; one representative from the American Federation of Teachers New
Jersey; one representative from
Garden State
Equality; one representative from the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice;
one representative from the Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT
Communities at Rutgers University; and one representative from the
Intercultural Center at Monmouth University.

���� c.���� Appointments to the
commission shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this act.�
To the greatest extent practicable, at the time of appointment, the initial
members shall be members of the Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth
Equity and Inclusion in Schools established pursuant to Executive Order No. 361
of 2024.�

���� d.��� Each public member of
the commission shall serve a term of four years, except that of the initial
members: one member appointed by the President of the Senate, one member
appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and two members appointed by
the Governor shall serve for terms of two years; one member appointed by the
President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the General
Assembly, and four members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of
three years; and two members appointed by the President of the Senate, two
members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and five members
appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of four years.� Public members
shall be eligible for reappointment and shall serve until their successors are
appointed and qualified.� The term of the successor of any incumbent shall be
calculated from the expiration of the term of that incumbent.� A vacancy
occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only.

���� e.���� The members of the
commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to
reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties.

���� 3.��� a.� The commission shall
organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members.� The
commission shall annually elect a chairperson from among its members.� It shall
meet upon the call of the chair or of a majority of the commission members.�
The presence of a majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall
be required for the conduct of official business.

���� b.��� The commission shall
appoint an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure and shall be a
person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the
office.�

���� c.���� The commission is
authorized to call upon any department, office, division, or agency of the
State, or of any county, municipality, or school district of the State, to
supply data, program reports and other information, personnel, and assistance
as it deems necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this act.

���� d.��� These departments,
offices, divisions, and agencies shall, to the extent possible, and not
inconsistent with any other law of this State, cooperate with the commission
and shall furnish it with information, personnel, and assistance as may be
necessary or helpful to accomplish the purposes of this act.

���� 4.��� It shall be the duty of
the commission to:

���� a.���� review State and local
educational policies and practices that impact LGBTQIA+ students;

���� b.��� identify best practices
for ensuring inclusive and supportive school environments
for LGBTQIA+
students;

���� c.����
recommend strategies to
address and prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination against LGBTQIA+
students;

���� d.��� recommend ways to
support districts in implementing statutory and regulatory requirements to
include instruction on the political, economic, and social contributions of
LGBTQIA+ figures in an appropriate place in the curriculum;

���� e.���� recommend ways to
support the mental health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ students;

���� f.���� advise on professional
development and training best practices for educators and school administrators
regarding LGBTQIA+ issues; and

���� g.��� advise the Governor and
the Legislature on other issues relating to ensuring safe and supportive school
climates for LGBTQIA+ students.

���� 5.��� a.� The commission shall
submit its initial report to the Governor and to the Legislature, pursuant to
section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than 180 days after the
commission organizes.�

���� b.��� The commission shall
annually thereafter prepare and submit reports containing its findings,
activities, and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislative
action that it deems appropriate, to the Governor and to the Legislature,
pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the Ad
visory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and
Inclusion in Schools
. The commission is to consist of 25 members,
including:

���� (1)��
the
Commissioners of Education, Children and Families, Health, and Human Services,
ex officio, or their designees;

���� (2)�� the Attorney General, ex
officio, or a designee;

���� (3)��
the
former chairperson of the Anti-Bullying Task Force;

���� (4)�� four public members
appointed by the President of the Senate and four public members appointed by
the Speaker of the General Assembly, all of whom are to have demonstrated
expertise in issues relating to the work of the commission; and

���� (5)�� 11 public members of the
education community appointed by the Governor
.

���� The bill stipulates that, to
the greatest extent practicable, at the time of appointment, the initial
members are to be members of the Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+
Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools established pursuant to Executive Order
No. 361 of 2024.�

���� The commission is to:

�

review State and local educational policies and practices that
impact LGBTQIA+ students;

�

identify best practices for ensuring inclusive and supportive
school environments
for LGBTQIA+ students;

�

recommend strategies to address and prevent bullying, harassment,
and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students;

�

recommend ways to support districts in implementing statutory and
regulatory requirements to include instruction on the political, economic, and
social contributions of LGBTQIA+ figures in an appropriate place in the
curriculum;

�

recommend ways to support the mental health and well-being of
LGBTQIA+ students;

�

advise on professional development and training best practices
for educators and school administrators regarding LGBTQIA+ issues; and

�

advise the Governor and the Legislature on other issues relating
to ensuring safe and supportive school climates for LGBTQIA+ students.

���� The commission is to submit
its initial report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 180 days
after the commission organizes.� The commission is to prepare and submit annual
reports thereafter containing its findings, activities, and recommendations,
including any recommendations for legislative action that it deems appropriate
to the Governor and the Legislature.

����
LGBTQIA+ students face unique challenges at school, including bullying,
discrimination, and lack of access to supportive resources.� Over the years,
the State has implemented various initiatives to create inclusive school
environments.� On June 17, 2024, Governor Murphy signed
Executive Order
No. 361 establishing an executive branch Advisory Commission on Advancing
LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools.� This commission is to provide
advice to the executive branch to support Department of Education�s efforts to
advance LGBTQIA+ equity in schools.� The Legislature strongly supports the
executive branch�s commitment to ensuring inclusive school environments for
LGBTQIA+ students.
It is the sponsor�s intent
to establish a
permanent commission to study these issues and recommend
legislation to ensure LGBTQIA+ students are shielded from discrimination in New
Jersey�s schools.