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 or reappointed members complete a training program developed by the Secretary of Higher Education within six months of their appointment and within six months of the start of each successive term. Additionally, members of boards at institutions with a State monitor must complete the training within six months of the monitor's appointment. The bill also specifies that the Secretary will determine the subject matter of the training, which will now include the governing board's role in financial management, and that the training will be arranged by the Secretary rather than the institutions themselves.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a notification system for members who fail to comply with training requirements, allowing for a 30-day grace period to fulfill the requirement, with the possibility of additional extensions. If the training is not completed within this period, it may be considered a resignation, disqualifying the member from reappointment for two years. The bill repeals a previous requirement for institutions to provide certain training and information to board members, consolidating the responsibility under the Secretary. To support these changes, the bill allocates $350,000 annually from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

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