This bill revises the training requirements for members of the governing boards of public institutions of higher education in New Jersey. It mandates that newly appointed members complete a training program within six months of their appointment, as opposed to the previous one-year requirement. Additionally, members who were previously exempt from training must also complete it within six months of the bill's effective date, with all members required to undergo training within six months of the start of each successive term thereafter. The Secretary of Higher Education will now determine the subject matter of the training, which will include governance responsibilities, ethical standards, and the financial management role of the governing board, among other topics.

The bill also introduces a notification system for members who fail to comply with training requirements, granting them a 30-day grace period to fulfill their obligations. If they do not comply, it may result in their resignation from the governing board, leading to disqualification from reappointment for two years. Furthermore, the bill allows for online training options and repeals a previous requirement for institutions to provide certain training information. To support these changes, an annual appropriation of $350,000 from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education is established.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:3B-6.3, 18A:3B-62