The bill amends N.J.S.18A:18A-5 and N.J.S.18A:18A-42, which govern the procurement processes for boards of education in New Jersey. It outlines exceptions to the requirement for advertising contracts that exceed the bid threshold, allowing for negotiation and award without public bidding under specific circumstances. Notable insertions include provisions for contracts related to food services provided by food service management companies, vending machines, and preschool education services supported by state aid. Additionally, the bill clarifies that contracts for professional services can be awarded for a maximum of 12 months, while other contracts may extend up to 24 months, with certain exceptions allowing for longer terms, such as for fuel supply and data processing services.

The bill also includes several deletions from previous amendments, specifically removing outdated provisions that are no longer applicable. It emphasizes the need for boards of education to provide supporting reasons for contract awards and to ensure that negotiated contracts are not substantially different from those that were subject to competitive bidding. Furthermore, it mandates that any contract awarded must be based on a two-thirds affirmative vote of the board's full membership and includes stipulations for notifying bidders in cases where bids are rejected as unreasonable. The act is set to take effect immediately upon approval.