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A4361
ASSEMBLY, No. 4361
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� DAWN FANTASIA
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblywoman� VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman� VICTORIA A. FLYNN
District 13 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Sauickie, Scharfenberger, Barlas, Assemblywoman
Dunn, Assemblymen Azzariti Jr., Inganamort and Auth
SYNOPSIS
���� Permits excused absence for students participating in
college visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and military
recruitment-related activities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning excused absences from public school
for college
visits, visits to postsecondary technical institutions, and
military recruitment-related activities 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.��� a.� Notwithstanding any
law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, and in order to support multiple
pathways to college and career for high school students in New Jersey, a pupil
of a public school enrolled in grades 11 or 12 shall be eligible for a
cumulative total of three excused absences per school year for the purpose of
college visits or visits to postsecondary technical institutions.� If such
pupil is absent from school to complete a military recruitment-related
activity, the pupil shall have the absence for that purpose recorded as an
excused absence on the pupil�s attendance record. Any transcript, application,
employment form, or any similar form on which information concerning a pupil's
attendance record is requested shall not show excused absences authorized
pursuant to this subsection.� In making a determination on whether a student
has a perfect attendance record for the school year, a public school shall not
consider as an absence an excused absence authorized pursuant to this
subsection.
���� b.� A pupil shall provide any
documentation the superintendent or administrative principal of the school
district deems necessary to prove the pupil meets the requirements for the
excused absence pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
���� c.� As used in this section:
���� �Military recruitment-related
activity� means any activity required by the Armed Forces of the United States
or the National Guard to be eligible to enlist in military service, including,
but not limited to, any testing, medical or physical evaluations, interviews,
and fingerprinting.
���� �Military service� means the
active and reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States, or the
National Guard.
���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect in the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
���� This bill permits excused
absences for students participating in college visits, visits to postsecondary
technical institutions, and military recruitment-related activities.
���� The bill requires a student
enrolled in grades 11 or 12 to be eligible for a cumulative total of three
excused absences per school year for the purpose of college visits or visits to
postsecondary technical institutions.� If such student is absent from school to
complete a military recruitment-related activity, the pupil will have the
absence for that purpose recorded as an excused absence on the pupil�s
attendance record.� The absence is not to be included on a student�s
transcript, application, employment form, or any similar form requested.� The
absence is also not to be considered when determining if a student has a
perfect attendance record for the school year.
���� Under the bill, a military
recruitment-related activity means any activity required by the Armed Forces of
the United States or the National Guard to be eligible to enlist in military
service, including, but not limited to, any testing, medical or physical
evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting.