The Safer Students Act aims to enhance student safety across K-12 and higher education institutions by implementing stringent hiring practices and investigation procedures related to allegations of child abuse and sexual misconduct. The bill mandates that educational institutions, including school districts, charter schools, and institutions of higher education, conduct thorough reviews of prospective employees' employment histories to identify any past allegations of misconduct. Employers are required to verify this information through direct contact with previous employers and maintain records of these verifications, which may be audited by the Office of the State Auditor. Additionally, each institution must designate a compliance specialist to oversee adherence to these new regulations, and the Department of Education is tasked with creating a public awareness campaign to inform applicants and employers of their rights and responsibilities.

The legislation establishes a comprehensive framework for investigating allegations of misconduct, requiring designated employees to initiate investigations within one school day of receiving credible information and complete them within ten school days. It outlines the responsibilities of school administrators in recommending actions based on investigation findings and prohibits schools from contracting with service providers that do not follow similar investigation procedures. To ensure accountability, the bill introduces penalties for noncompliance, including fines and potential disciplinary actions against employees, and mandates that the Secretary of Higher Education publish a list of institutions with incidents of noncompliance. Overall, the Safer Students Act seeks to protect students from potential predators by ensuring that individuals with a history of misconduct are not employed in positions involving contact with children.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:17-56.61, 18A:6-7.7, 18A:6-7.9, 18A:6-7.10, 18A:6-7.13