New Jersey A 3428: Provides that regional school districts are not subject to State school aid reductions under certain circumstances.

Bill Text

A3428 

ASSEMBLY, No. 3428 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman HEATHER SIMMONS

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Assemblyman DAVID BAILEY, JR.

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

SYNOPSIS

���� Provides that regional school districts are not 
subject to State school aid reductions under certain circumstances.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning State school aid, amending P.L.2018, c.67, 
and supplementing P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.). �

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

���� 1.��� Section 4 of P.L.2018, 
c.67 (C.18A:7F-68) is amended to read as follows:

���� 4. a. Notwithstanding the 
provisions of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) or any other law to the 
contrary, in the 2019-2020 through 2024-2025 school years, a school district or 
county vocational school district in which the State aid differential calculated 
is negative shall receive State school aid in an amount equal to the sum of the 
district's State aid in the prior school year plus the district's proportionate 
share of the sum of any increase in State aid included in the annual 
appropriations act for that fiscal year and the total State aid reduction 
pursuant to subsection b. of this section based on the district's State aid 
differential as a percent of the Statewide total State aid differential among 
all school districts and county vocational school districts for which the State 
aid differential is negative.� Any increase in State aid pursuant to this 
subsection shall first be allocated to equalization aid, followed by special 
education categorical aid, security categorical aid, and transportation aid, 
except that no category shall exceed the total amount as calculated in 
accordance with the provisions of sections 11, 13, 14, and 15 of P.L.2007, 
c.260 (C.18A:7F-53, C.18A:7F-55, C.18A:7F-56, and C.18A:7F-57), respectively.

���� b.��� Except as provided 
pursuant to subsection c. of this section, and notwithstanding the provisions 
of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) or any other law to the contrary, in 
the 2019-2020 through 2024-2025 school years, a school district or county 
vocational school district in which the State aid differential is positive 
shall receive State school aid in an amount equal to the district's State aid 
in the prior school year minus a percent of the State aid differential 
according to the following schedule:

���� (1) 13 percent in the 
2019-2020 school year;

���� (2) 23 percent in the 
2020-2021 school year;

���� (3) 37 percent in the 
2021-2022 school year;

���� (4) 55 percent in the 
2022-2023 school year;

���� (5) 76 percent in the 
2023-2024 school year; and

���� (6) 100 percent in the 
2024-2025 school year.

���� c. (1) An SDA district that is 
located in a municipality in which the equalized total tax rate is greater than 
the Statewide average equalized total tax rate for the most recent available 
calendar year and is spending below adequacy as calculated pursuant to section 
1 of P.L.2018, c.67 (C.18A:7F-70) shall not be subject to a reduction in State 
aid pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

���� (2) An SDA district that is 
located in a municipality in which the equalized total tax rate is greater than 
the Statewide average equalized total tax rate for the most recent available 
calendar year and is spending above adequacy as calculated pursuant to section 
1 of P.L.2018, c.67 (C.18A:7F-70) shall be subject to a reduction not to exceed 
the amount by which the district is spending above adequacy multiplied by the 
corresponding percentage included in subsection b. of this section.

���� (3) A school district, other 
than an SDA district, that is located in a municipality in which the equalized 
total tax rate is at least 10 percent greater than the Statewide average 
equalized total tax rate for the most recent available calendar year and is 
spending at least 10 percent below adequacy as calculated pursuant to section 1 
of P.L.2018, c.67 (C.18A:7F-70) shall not be subject to a reduction in State 
aid pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

���� (4) A school district that is 
a participating district under an application that is approved for a grant 
pursuant to subsection a. of section 4 of P.L.2021, c.402 (C.18A:13-47.4) or a 
school district that is a participating district under an application that 
receives preliminary approval pursuant to subsection b. of section 4 of 
P.L.2021, c.402 (C.18A:13-47.4) and that has a State aid differential that is 
positive may elect to receive State school aid in an amount equal to the 
district's State aid in the prior school year minus a percent of the State aid 
differential according to the following schedule:

���� (a) 30 percent in the 
2021-2022 school year;

���� (b) 37