New Jersey A 5235: Provides personal exemption under gross income tax for certain members of volunteer fire departments and first aid squads.

Bill Text

A5235 2R 

[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5235 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED JUNE 8, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman� ANDREA KATZ

District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)

Assemblyman� VINCENT M. "VINNIE" KEARNEY

District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Verrelli, Freiman, Assemblywomen Speight, Swain 
and Assemblyman Tully

SYNOPSIS

����� Establishes 
School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program in DCF; 
requires school districts to develop mental health support and partnership 
programs.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As reported by the Assembly Budget Committee on June 
28, 2026, with amendments.

�� 

An Act concerning student mental health2[,] and2 supplementing 2[chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes 
and Title] Chapter2 9A of 2Title 30 of2 the 2[New Jersey] Revised2 Statutes 2[, 
and making an appropriation]2.

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

����� 1.�� a.� 
The Commissioner of 2[Education] Children and Families2, in consultation with the Commissioner of 2[Children and Families] Education2 , shall establish guidelines for the development of 
a comprehensive mental health support and partnership program by a 2participating2 school district 2[, charter school, and renaissance school project]2 in accordance with 2[section 2] the provisions2 of 2[P.L.���� , c.��� (C.����������� ) (pending before 
the Legislature as this bill)] this act2.

����� b.� 
The guidelines shall, at a minimum: 

����� (1)� 
include information on common consent forms; laws and regulations governing 
patient privacy, including the �Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
Act of 1996,� Pub.L.104-191; and regional or school-based care coordination 
teams; 

����� (2)� 
clarify when a school district 2[, charter school, or renaissance school project]2 may request a mental health evaluation by a 
provider employed outside of the school district 2, which shall be at the expense of the school 
district2; the appropriate documentation for the mental 
health evaluation request; and how schools, families, and providers should 
communicate in a way that protects student privacy; 

����� (3) 
promote consistency across school districts 2[, charter schools, and renaissance school projects,]2 and reduce administrative requirements that can 
delay a student�s return to school; and 

����� (4) 
encourage school districts 2[, charter schools, and renaissance school projects]2 to develop written transition and support plans for 
students returning to school from a mental health crisis that address methods 
of communication with families, coordination with providers, and short-term 
follow-up supports within the school.

����� 2c.� No later than 90 days after the effective date 
of this act, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall establish and 
implement a process and issue a request for proposals by which mobile mental 
health platforms may apply to be awarded a State contract to provide a mobile 
mental health application that delivers universal, age-appropriate mental 
health information and resources specifically tailored to students in 
kindergarten through grade 12 and their families.

����� d.� 
The Commissioner of Children and Families shall ensure that the universal, 
age-appropriate mental health information and resources provided via the mobile 
application pursuant to subsection d. of this section complement the services 
available to students and families through the New Jersey Statewide Student 
Support Services program and the School-Based Partnerships for Access and 
Resilience for Kids (SPARK) pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of 
this act.2

����� 2.�� a. 
2[1Commencingon the six month following the date of 
enactment of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as 
this bill) until the first day of the 25th month next following the date of enactment of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) 
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), the provisions of this section 
shall apply to a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project 
selected by the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the 
Commissioner of Children and Families, to participate in and access the 
School-Based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids (SPARK) program 
services, as listed in subsection b. of section 3 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� 
) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).� Thereafter, the provisions of 
this section shall apply to each school district, charter school, and 
renaissance school project in the State.] 
Notwithstanding the provision of any law or regulation to the contrary, 
there is established within the Department of Children and Families the 
School-Based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids (SPARK) pilot 
program to ev