BY MIKE MONTEMARANO
OF PASCACK PRESS/NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TRENTON––Gov. Chris Christie signed an Assembly bill primarily sponsored by Valerie Huttle of the 37th district, among others, which ensured that the Commissioner of Education will develop guidelines for schools to address the needs of transgender students.
Under the 11 guidelines that the bill presents, school districts in New Jersey must:
• Provide guidance to terms relevant to transgender issues;
• Maintain a learning environment free of discrimination and harassment;
• Support privacy concerns of an individual’s status;
• Hold new standards for procedures from school records maintenance;
• Use the name and pronoun corresponding to a student’s identity;
• Allow students to identify and dress according to their gender identity;
• Allow equal opportunities in physical education;
• Allow participation in gender-segregated activities that is in accordance with a student’s identity;
• Allow the use of restrooms and locker rooms in accordance with identity;
• Ensure that counselors are knowledgeable about transgender issues;
• Permit the formation of student clubs or programs regarding LGBTQ issues.
The bill’s fiscal impact was deemed negligible, and therefore did not require a fiscal vote before passing.