New Jersey S 4396: Removes municipal authority to charge application fee for representation by municipal public defender.

Bill Text

S4396 

SENATE, No. 4396 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED JUNE 1, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Modifies certain provisions of law concerning 
speech-language specialists. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning speech language services and amending 
various parts of the statutory law.

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

���� 1.��� Section 1 of P.L.1982, 
c.162 (C.18A:46-5.1) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� Each board of education 
and State operated program shall separately or jointly with one or more boards 
of education or State agencies provide for basic child study team services.� 
The basic child study team shall consist of a school psychologist, a learning 
disability teacher consultant and a school social worker, and for the purposes 
of evaluation and classification shall include pertinent information from 
certified school personnel making the referral.� This information shall be 
considered in the evaluation and classification process as defined in [N.J.A.C. 
6:28-1.1 et seq] 
State Board of Education regulations concerning special education.

���� In addition to the members 
required pursuant to this section, the basic child study team shall also 
include a speech-language specialist when a student has a classification of 
preschool child with a disability, communication impairment, or eligible for speech-language 
services.

���� The referring certified school 
personnel and the school principal, or [his] a 
designee, may attend the classification conference as defined in [N.J.A.C. 
6:28-1.1 et seq.] 
State board regulations concerning special education and participate in 
the classification decision.

(cf: P.L.1982, c.162, s.1)

���� 2.��� N.J.S.18A:46-8 is 
amended to read as follows:

���� 18A:46-8.� Each board of 
education shall provide for the examination and classification of each child 
residing in the district and identified pursuant to N.J.S.18A:46-6, except that 
the board of education of a county vocational school district shall provide for 
the examination and classification of each child who is attending the county 
vocational school on a full-time basis and is identified pursuant to 
N.J.S.18A:46-6.� [Such] The 
examination and classification shall be accomplished according to procedures 
prescribed by the commissioner and approved by the State board, under one of 
the categories identified in N.J.S.18A:46-1.� The examination and 
classification of [such] nonpublic 
school children shall be in a location determined by the local board of 
education of the district in which the nonpublic school is located and approved 
by the commissioner pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the State 
board.

���� The classification of a child 
with a communication impairment shall be made by the basic child study team and 
an approved [speech 
correctionist] 
speech-language specialist or [speech] speech-language 
pathologist, [without] with 
child study consultation.� Such children shall be reported to the basic child 
study team.� The proposed classification shall be reported to the parent or 
guardian of the child at a meeting to determine eligibility and an 
opportunity provided, prior to implementation of the classification, for 
consultation by [such] the 
parent or guardian with the appropriate special educational services personnel 
of the district. Pursuant to rules of the State board, the parent or guardian 
shall also be provided an opportunity for further review of the classification 
in the Department of Education.

(cf: P.L.2017, c.131, s.45)

���� 3.��� Section 9 of P.L.1977, 
c.193 (C.18A:46-19.7) is amended to read as follows:

���� 9.��� A board of education may 
contract with an educational improvement center, an educational services 
commission or other public or private agency approved by the commissioner other 
than a church or sectarian school, for the provision of examination, classification 
and [speech 
correction] 
speech-language services required by [this 
act] P.L.1977, 
c.193 (C.18A:46-19.1 et al.).� Prior to any change in the provision of 
these services, the board shall provide timely and meaningful consultation with 
appropriate nonpublic school representatives, including parents.

���� Notwithstanding the 
provisions of this section to the contrary, a board of education may only 
contract with a private agency or clinic approved by the Department of 
Education for the provision of speech-language services to supplement existing 
district staff for temporary vacancies when the board is unable to hire 
sufficient staff to provide speech-language services.� 

(cf: P.L.1999, c.364, s.1)

���� 4.��� This act shall take 
effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year 
following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill modifies certain 
provisions of law