The bill establishes the Chronic Absenteeism Task Force in New Jersey, tasked with assessing and addressing chronic absenteeism in the state's public schools. The task force will consist of 17 members, including the Commissioner of Education or a designee, four public members with expertise in relevant issues appointed by legislative leaders, and 12 public members appointed by the Governor, representing various educational organizations. The task force is required to examine current and pre-pandemic absenteeism data, analyze root causes, assess the impact of mental health and school climate, and develop recommendations for improving attendance and family engagement.

The task force is mandated to issue a final report to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of its formation, detailing its findings and any legislative recommendations. The task force will dissolve 30 days after submitting its report. This initiative comes in response to rising chronic absenteeism rates, which increased from 10.6% in the 2018-19 school year to 16.6% in the 2022-23 school year, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to combat this issue and support student engagement and success.