New Jersey A 2708: Prohibits elected officers of municipality from accepting employment with municipality in which they hold office.

Bill Text

A2708 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2708 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman PAUL KANITRA

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes "Next Gen STEM Support Act" to 
provide financial assistance for innovative STEM programs.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

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

�� 

An Act concerning STEM coursework and resources in public 
schools and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� This act shall be known 
and may be cited as the �Next Gen STEM Support Act.�

���� 2.��� As used in this act:

���� �Program� means the Next Gen 
STEM Support Program established pursuant to section 4 of this act.

���� �STEM� means science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics.

���� �STEM resource� is defined to 
include laboratory equipment; computer software and technology including, 
robotic and engineering materials; the expansion of STEM development and 
extracurricular activities; and professional training for STEM educators.

���� 3.��� The Legislature finds 
and declares that:

���� a.���� New Jersey public 
schools struggle to provide adequate STEM resources necessary for students to 
succeed in STEM coursework.

���� b.��� In support of the 
constitutional mandate to provide students in New Jersey with a �thorough and 
efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children 
in the State,� the Legislature should have input into the instructional programs 
provided in the public schools.

���� c.���� The core function of 
public schools is to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.

���� d.��� Coursework in STEM 
provides students with learning opportunities in these vital subject areas.

���� e.���� It is altogether 
fitting and proper to establish a grant program that promotes STEM by expanding 
and supporting existing programs with the resources necessary to provide 
superior instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

���� 4.��� a.� The Commissioner of 
Education shall establish the Next Gen STEM Support Program within one year of 
the effective date of this act.� Under the program, the commissioner shall 
provide grant funds to public schools to ensure the growth and development of 
STEM coursework, resources, and extracurricular programs.

���� b.��� A grant awarded through 
the Next Gen STEM Support Program shall be used to support public schools in:

���� (1)�� providing STEM 
coursework;

���� (2)�� attaining STEM resources 
necessary to support students engaged in STEM coursework and extracurricular 
activities;

���� (3)�� encouraging student 
participation in STEM coursework and extracurricular activities; and

���� (4)�� any other activities the 
commissioner deems necessary.

���� c.���� A public school that 
receives a grant pursuant to this act shall not allocate more than one-third of 
the total grant amount to professional training for STEM educators.

���� 5.��� a.� A public school that 
wishes to participate in the program shall submit an application to the 
Commissioner of Education in a manner and form determined by the commissioner.� 
The application shall include, but not be limited to:

���� (1)�� a description of current 
STEM coursework offered by the public school;

���� (2)�� a description of current 
STEM extracurricular activities offered by the public school;

���� (3)�� the total number of 
students enrolled in elective STEM courses offered by the public school;

���� (4)�� a list of STEM resources 
needed by the public school;

���� (5)�� a description of how the 
public school will use any grant funds awarded through the program for the 
expansion of any existing, or the provision of any new, coursework, activities, 
or resources; and

���� (6)�� any other information 
the commissioner deems necessary.

���� b.��� The commissioner shall 
develop criteria for the evaluation of grant applications.� Based on this 
criteria, and within the limit of available appropriations, the commissioner 
shall allocate to each selected public school a grant in an amount as 
determined by the commissioner.� 

���� c.���� To the maximum extent 
practicable, the commissioner shall select a cross-section of public schools 
from the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and a 
cross-section of public schools from urban, suburban, and rural areas.

���� 6.��� Each public school that 
receives a grant pursuant to this act shall annually submit a report to the 
Commissioner of Education detailing the use of grant funds and the impact of 
the grant funds on students, STEM coursework, and STEM resources.

���� 7.��� There is annually 
appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Education such funds as 
are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act; however, no more than