Bipartisan legislation aimed at extending seniority protections to educational support professionals who have served in the U.S. military has advanced in the New Jersey Senate. The bill, S-4428, is sponsored by Senator Carmen Amato, Jr. (R-9) and Senator Raj Mukherji (D-32). It was approved by the Senate Higher Education Committee.
Currently, only teaching staff members in New Jersey are eligible to receive seniority credit for time spent on active military duty. The proposed legislation would allow non-teaching school district employees—including teacher’s aides, administrative assistants, bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, and others—to receive up to four years of seniority or employment credit for their military service. This benefit would apply even if the military service occurred before they began working for a school district.
Senator Amato commented on the importance of recognizing veterans among educational support staff: “Educational support professionals are essential to the daily operations of our schools, and many of them have also bravely served our nation,” said Senator Amato. “By advancing S-4428, New Jersey is one step closer to ensuring veterans in these roles receive the recognition and respect they deserve.”
The full text of bill S-4428 can be accessed here.
