New Jersey A 3385: Prohibits bill certified for fiscal note or estimate from being released from committee without fiscal note or estimate.

Bill Text

A3385 

ASSEMBLY, No. 3385 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman STERLEY S. STANLEY

District 18 (Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Clarifies public school student attendance recording 
and reporting requirements.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

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

�� 

An Act concerning student attendance records, 
supplementing chapter 38 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending 
P.L.1995, c.235 and N.J.S.18A:38-27.

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

���� 1.��� (New section)� A school 
district shall record a student as present, absent for an excused absence, 
absent for a State-excused absence, or absent for an unexcused absence on the 
student�s attendance record every day that school is in session.� 

���� 2.��� (New section)� A student 
shall be recorded as present pursuant to section 1 of P.L.��� , c.���� 
(C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) if the student 
participates in instruction or instruction-related activities for at least half 
a day in session whether the student is physically on school grounds, at an 
approved off-grounds location, or in a virtual or remote instruction setting 
pursuant to State Board of Education regulations.

���� 3.��� (New section)� a.� A 
student shall be recorded as absent for an excused absence pursuant to section 
1 of P.L.��� , c.���� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this 
bill) if the absence is the result of:

���� (1)�� the physical health of 
the student, including the experiencing of symptoms of a menstrual disorder.� 
Menstrual disorders shall include, but are not limited to, dysmenorrhea, 
endometriosis, menorrhea, and polycystic ovarian syndrome;� 

���� (2)�� the mental or behavioral 
health of the student;

���� (3)�� the student�s required 
attendance in court; or 

���� (4)�� a death in the family. 

���� b.��� A student that is absent 
for an excused absence shall be given the opportunity to make up any schoolwork 
missed during the absence.

���� c.���� Any transcript, 
application, employment form, or any similar form on which information 
concerning a student�s attendance record is requested shall not indicate, with 
respect to absences, any excused absence.� In making a determination on whether 
a student has a perfect attendance record for the school year, a school 
district shall not consider as an absence any excused absence the student may 
have. 

���� d.��� The student shall 
provide to the superintendent or administrative principal of the school 
district medical documentation; non-medical documentation; or documentation 
from a parent or guardian of the student to prove the student meets the 
requirements for an excused absence.� Medical documentation shall excuse a 
student for up to five school days.� 

���� e.���� Notwithstanding 
subsection d. of this section, if the absence is the result of the mental or 
behavioral health of the student, the appropriate school support personnel 
shall meet with the student, review the documentation submitted pursuant to 
subsection d. of this section, and make a determination on whether the absence 
qualifies as an excused absence. 

���� 4.��� (New section)� a.� A 
student shall be recorded as absent for a State-excused absence pursuant to 
section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending 
before the Legislature as this bill) 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 Take 
Our Children to Work Day pursuant to State Board of Education regulations; 

���� (5)�� college visits for 
students in grades 11 and 12 pursuant to State Board of Education regulations; 
and 

���� (6)�� the closure of a busing 
school district that prevents a student from having transportation to the 
receiving school pursuant to State Board of Education regulations.� 

���� b.��� A student that is absent 
for a State-excused absence shall be given the opportunity to make up any 
schoolwork missed during the absence.

���� c.���� Any transcript, 
application, employment form, or any similar form on which information 
concerning a student�s attendance record is requested shall not indicate, with 
respect to absences, any State-excused absence.� In making a determination on 
whether a student has a perfect attendance record for the school year, a school 
district shall not consider as an absence any State-excused absence the student 
may have. 

���� d.��� The student shall 
provide any documentation the superintendent or administrative princip