[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1588

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI

District 33 (Hudson)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson and Assemblyman Wimberly

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

Permits use of preferred names on student diplomas.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Assembly Education Committee on February 7, 2022, with amendments.

An Act concerning the use of preferred names on student diplomas and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

1. All public and nonpublic schools, institutions of higher education, and proprietary institutions licensed to offer academic degrees shall provide a graduating student with an option to request that a diploma be conferred by the school or institution listing the students preferred name. A school or institution shall not require a graduating student to provide legal documentation sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change to permit the student to use a preferred name.

A school or institution shall have the right to deny a preferred name request if the preferred name is intended to:

a. misrepresent the persons identity or misappropriate the identity of another person;

b. avoid a legal obligation;

c. harm the reputation or interests of the school or institution; or

d. be derogatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

 

2. a. A public or nonpublic school, institution of higher education, or proprietary institution licensed to offer degrees shall update a former students records provided that the former student provides sufficient documentation that the former students legal name or gender has been changed. Documents sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change include, but need not be limit to, the following:

(1) state-issued drivers license;

(2) birth certificate;

(3) passport;

(4) social security card; or

(5) court order indicating a name change, gender change, or both.

b. Upon receipt of proper documentation sufficient to demonstrate a legal name or gender change, a school or institution shall reissue any documents conferred upon the former student with the former students updated legal name or gender. Documents that shall be reissued by the school or institution upon request include, but need not be limited to, a transcript or diploma conferred by the school or institution. ¹A school or institution may charge a nominal

fee for the reissuance of any document requested by a former student pursuant to this section.¹

 

3. This act shall take effect on the first full day of the third month next following the date of enactment.