New Jersey A 4573: Requires MVC to allow submission of vehicle identification number to "Next-of-Kin Registry." *

Bill Text

A4573 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4573 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� ROSAURA "ROSY" BAGOLIE

District 27 (Essex and Passaic)

Assemblywoman� ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Angelozzi

SYNOPSIS

���� Codifies regulations concerning State-excused 
absences; permits excused absence for students attending military service 
activities, certain school visits, and open-houses. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning public school excused absences 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. �A student shall be 
recorded with a State-excused absence on the student�s attendance record if the 
absence is the result of:

���� (1)�� the student�s religious 
observance pursuant to N.J.S.18A:36-14, N.J.S.18A:36-15, and N.J.S.18A:36-16; 

���� (2)�� participation in 
observance of Veterans Day pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2015, c.297 
(C.18A:36-13.2); 

���� (3)�� participation in 
district board of election membership activities pursuant to section 1 of 
P.L.2001, c.271 (C.18A:36-33);

���� (4)�� participation in a civic 
event pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2023, c.274 (C.18A:36-33.2); 

���� (5)�� participation in Take 
Our Children to Work Day; 

���� (6)�� the closure of a busing 
school district that prevents a student from having transportation to the 
receiving school; and 

���� (7)�� a military service 
activity, a college, vocational, or trade school visit, or a labor-related open 
house, up to three days per school year, for a student in grades 11 and 12. ��

���� b.��� Any transcript, 
application, employment form, or any similar form on which information 
concerning a student's attendance record is requested shall not show excused 
absences authorized pursuant to this section.� 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 a State-excused absence authorized 
pursuant to this section.

���� c.���� A student shall provide 
any documentation the superintendent or administrative principal of the school 
district deems necessary to prove the student meets the requirements for a 
State-excused absence. 

���� d.��� As used in this section, 
�military service activity� means any activity required by the active and 
reserve components of 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.

���� 2. This act shall take effect 
180 days following the date of enactment, but shall remain inoperative until 
the first day of the first full school year following the effective date.� 

STATEMENT

���� This bill codifies, and 
expands upon, State-excused absences for public school students. 

���� Under the State Board of 
Education�s regulations, students are required to be recorded as present, 
absent, or excused for a State-excused absence.� The seven State-excused 
absences centrally located in the regulations include: 1) a student�s religious 
observance; 2) participation in observance of Veterans Day; 3) participation in 
district board of election membership activities; 4) participation in �Take Our 
Children to Work Day�; 5) up to three days per school year for students in 
grades 11 and 12 to visit colleges; 6) a closure of a busing school district 
that prevents a student from having transportation to a receiving school; and 
7) participation in a civic event. ��

���� Currently, four of the seven 
State-excused absences are established in statute. �This bill codifies the 
seven listed State-excused absence requirements found in the regulations.� 

���� The bill also expands upon the 
State-excused absences for college visits.� Under the bill, students who are 
absent to attend a military service activity, vocational or trade school visit, 
or a labor-related open house are similarly entitled to three State-excused 
absences each school year during grades 11 and 12 as those students attending 
college visits under the regulations. 

���� The regulations also currently 
permit boards of education to adopt policies that establish locally approved or 
excused absences.� Nothing in this bill prevents a board of education from 
establishing local policies concerning approved or excused absences in 
accordance with State board regulations.