Requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidance on accommodations for certain students fasting for religious or medical reasons.*

S1340 AED Statement 6/15/26

ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR

SENATE, No.
1340

with
committee amendments

STATE
OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:
�JUNE
15, 2026

����� The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably and
with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1340 SCS.

����� As amended, this bill requires the Commissioner of
Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to develop and
distribute guidance to public schools concerning accommodations for students
who are fasting for religious or medical reasons.� The commissioners are
required to consult with interested stakeholders in the education community in
developing the guidance.

����� The bill provides that the guidance will address:

����� (1)� flexibility for physical education classes,
athletic participation, examinations, and other school activities;

����� (2)� differentiated instruction and alternative
educational activities for students whose fasting may affect participation in
certain physical activities;

����� (3)� strategies to support students who are fasting
for religious or medical reasons without adversely affecting the students�
academic standing or access to instruction aligned with the New Jersey Student
Learning Standards;

����� (4)� communication with parents or guardians regarding
requests for accommodations related to fasting; and

����� (5)� professional development resources and best
practices for teachers, coaches, school nurses, counselors, and administrators
concerning students who are fasting for religious or medical reasons.

����� Within one year of the effective date of the bill, the
Department of Education is required to post the guidance on its Internet
website.

����� The bill is not to be construed as providing a public
school the authority to: alter State graduation requirements for students who
are fasting for religious or medical reasons; preclude a student who is fasting
from meeting local graduation requirements as a result of any accommodations
provided to the student; or require a student who is fasting to complete
additional schoolwork or instructional time as a result of any accommodations
provided to the student in order to meet local graduation requirements.

����� As amended and reported by the committee, Senate Bill
No. 1340 SCS is identical to the committee substitute for Assembly Bill No.
2042, which was also reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
:

����� The committee amended the bill to:

�

remove requirements that the guidance produced pursuant to the
bill provide recommendations on: scheduling considerations; model policies concerning
matters related to student fasting; and methods by which school districts may
address graduation credit requirements and course participation requirements;

�

remove reference to �instructional activities� with respect to
recommendations concerning the provision of differentiated instruction and alternative
educational activities for students;

�

provide that the guidance produced pursuant to the bill would
give recommendations concerning strategies to support students who are fasting
without adversely affecting the students� academic standing or access to
instruction aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards;

�

provide that the bill would not be construed to alter graduation
requirements, preclude a student from meeting local graduation requirements as
a result of any accommodations provided to the student, or require a student to
complete additional schoolwork or instructional time as a result of any
accommodations provided to the student; and

�

require the Department of Education to make the guidance publicly
available within one year, instead of 180 days, following the bill�s effective
date.