New Jersey A 3803: Requires public institution of higher education to readmit student whose enrollment was interrupted due to military service.

Bill Text

A3803 

ASSEMBLY, No. 3803 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman AURA K. DUNN

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Bergen, Scharfenberger, Assemblywomen Flynn, 
Fantasia, Assemblymen Kanitra and Inganamort

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Office of Ombudsman for Children.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

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

��

An Act establishing the Office of the Ombudsman for Children 
and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.� a.� There is established, 
in but not of the Office of the Attorney General in the Department of Law and 
Public Safety, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children.� For the purpose of 
complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New 
Jersey Constitution, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children is hereby 
allocated within the Office of the Attorney General, but notwithstanding this 
allocation, the office shall be independent of any supervision or control by 
the department or any board or officer thereof, or any other cabinet-level 
department, board, or officer thereof.� 

���� The purpose of the office 
shall be to ensure the provision of effective, appropriate, and timely services 
for children at risk of abuse and neglect in the State, respond to the concerns 
and addressing the needs of children in the resource family care, and that 
children under State supervision due to child abuse or neglect are served 
adequately and appropriately by the State.

���� b.� The Governor shall appoint 
an Ombudsman for Children who shall be qualified by training and experience to 
perform the duties of the office.� The ombudsman shall be a person of 
recognized judgment, integrity, and objectivity, and shall be skilled in communication, 
conflict resolution, and professionalism.� The ombudsman shall serve for a term 
of four years and until the appointment and qualification of his successor.� A 
vacancy occurring in the position of the ombudsman shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment, except that if the ombudsman dies, resigns, 
becomes ineligible to serve for any reason, or is removed from office, the 
Governor shall appoint an acting ombudsman who shall serve until the 
appointment and qualification of the ombudsman's successor.

���� c.� The ombudsman shall 
organize and direct the work of the office, including the work of professional 
and clerical staff, as may be necessary to carry out the ombudsman's duties.

���� d.� The Office of the 
Ombudsman for Children shall be deemed a child protective agency for the 
purposes of section 1 of P.L.1977, c.102 (C.9:6-8.10a).

���� 2.� a.� Consistent with the 
provisions of federal and State law the Ombudsman for Children shall:

���� (1)� have access to, and the 
right to inspect and copy, any records, relating to the care, custody, or 
education of a child, necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the 
ombudsman under this act; and

���� (2)� have reasonable access 
to, and the right to copy any records from the Department of Children and 
Families� Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System, or its 
successor, necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this act; except 
that, access provided to the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information 
System, or its successor, shall be limited to information available through the 
system.

���� b.��� The ombudsman may issue 
subpoenas to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production 
of books, papers, and other documents, and administer oaths to witnesses in any 
matter under the investigation of the ombudsman.� If any person to whom such 
subpoena is issued fails to appear or, having appeared, refuses to give 
testimony, or fails to produce the books, papers, or other documents required, 
the ombudsman may apply to the Superior Court, which may order the person to 
appear and give testimony or produce the books, papers, or other documents, as 
applicable.

���� 3.� a.� The duties of the Ombudsman 
for Children shall include, but shall not be limited to: 

���� (1) identifying and reporting 
on systemic issues and responses relating to the child welfare system, 
including the State�s foster care system, upon which the Governor and 
Legislature may act; 

���� (2) ensuring compliance with 
relevant statutes, rules, regulations, policies, and contracts concerning 
facilities, services, and treatment of children under the jurisdiction of any 
State agency or department providing services to children who are at risk of 
abuse or neglect, children in State or institutional custody, children in 
out-of-home placement, and children who receive child protective or permanency 
services;

���� (3) promoting public awareness 
of the rights of, and providing informa