Trenton, NJ – Educational support professionals who served in the U.S. military could soon receive up to four years of seniority credit under bipartisan legislation advanced by the Senate Higher Education Committee.
The bill, S-2962, sponsored by Senator Carmen Amato Jr. (R-Ocean) and Senator Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson), would extend military service credit protections currently granted to teaching staff members to non-teaching school employees across New Jersey.
Under the proposal, eligible veterans working as educational support professionals would receive equivalent years of employment or seniority credit, up to four years, for time spent on active duty. The measure applies to employees such as teacher’s aides, administrative assistants, bus drivers, food service workers, custodians and other non-teaching district staff.
Amato said the legislation is designed to recognize military service among essential school employees. “Educational support professionals are essential to the daily operations of our schools, and many of them have also served our nation,” he said in a statement released by the New Jersey Legislature.
Current state law provides up to four years of seniority credit for military service to teaching staff members. The new measure would supplement Chapter 28 of Title 18A of New Jersey statutes to include educational support professionals under the same framework.
If enacted, the bill would require that any educational support professional who served in the active military and is declared eligible for federal veterans’ benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs receive equivalent seniority credit. The credit would apply even if the military service occurred prior to the employee’s hire by a school district.
- Bill S-2962 advances through Senate Higher Education Committee
- Would grant up to four years of military seniority credit
- Applies to non-teaching school district employees statewide
Legislative background and next steps
An identical version of the bill advanced through committee in December but was reintroduced at the start of the new legislative session. The current version has been introduced and is pending technical review by Legislative Counsel.
The measure states it would take effect immediately upon enactment.
Lawmakers backing the proposal say it ensures parity between teaching staff and other district employees who served in the armed forces. Additional developments will be tracked through New Jersey education policy updates as the bill moves through the legislative process.