This bill mandates the Commissioner of Education to create a sensitivity training program specifically for high school athletic directors, coaches, and sports officials involved in interscholastic athletic programs. The training will cover various important topics, including gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, disabilities, religious tolerance, unconscious bias, and diversity and inclusion. The Commissioner is required to consult with the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety during the program's development and will update the program as necessary to ensure it remains current and effective.
Additionally, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is tasked with ensuring that all coaches and athletic directors complete this training program every four years. Newly appointed coaches and athletic directors must complete the training within their first year. Furthermore, individuals applying to sports officials chapters or associations must certify their completion of the training program, and active sports officials are also required to complete the training every four years. This initiative aims to foster a more inclusive and respectful environment in high school sports.