Applies provisions of "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act" to certain incidents of gang bullying.

A5307

ASSEMBLY, No. 5307

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 23, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Applies provisions of �Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights
Act� to certain incidents of gang bullying.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning gang bullying in public schools and
supplementing P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-13 et seq.).� ��

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

���� 1.��� a. As used in this section:

���� �Gang bullying� means any
intentional, coordinated, or repeated pattern of harassment, intimidation,
bullying, humiliation, exclusion, threats, physical acts, verbal acts,
electronic communications, or social conduct carried out by two or more
students against another student, where the collective conduct would reasonably
be expected to cause physical harm, emotional harm, substantial disruption to
the student�s educational environment, or interference with the student�s
rights at school.

���� Gang bullying may include, but
is not limited to, organized targeting, group harassment, coordinated social
exclusion, repeated public humiliation, collective intimidation, cyberbullying
conducted by multiple students, or repeated acts intended to isolate,
embarrass, threaten, or emotionally distress a student.

���� Gang bullying shall not
require that the conduct be motivated by or related to the student�s actual or
perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or any other protected
characteristic.

���� b.� The provisions of the
�Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act,� P.L.2002, c.83 (C.18A:37-13 et seq.), as
amended and supplemented,� shall be applicable to incidents of gang bullying
that occur: �(1) on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or on a
school bus; and (2) off school grounds when a school employee is made aware of
such actions.�

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

STATEMENT

���� This
bill applies the provisions of the State�s school bullying law, entitled the
�Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act,� to incidents of gang bullying, as that term
is defined in the bill.�

���� The bill provides that the
provisions of the �Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act� will be applicable to
incidents of gang bullying that occur:� (1) on school property, at a
school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, and (2) off school grounds when a
school employee is made aware of such actions.� The bill defines gang
bullying.�

���� Under
current law, each school district is required to adopt a policy prohibiting
harassment, intimidation, or bullying� on school property, at a
school-sponsored function, or on a school bus.� Current law requires that an
incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying be �reasonably perceived as
being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race,
color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any
other distinguishing characteristic��� This bill establishes a definition for
gang bullying that does not include a similar qualifying provision.