A 5235 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program in DCF; requires school districts to develop mental health support and partnership programs.*

This bill creates a new mental health initiative called the School-Based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program within the Department of Children and Families to support students in New Jersey schools. It requires school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects to develop specific mental health support programs that connect students with high behavioral health needs to the new SPARK program navigator. The program will provide same-day psychiatric consultations, referrals to community care, and assistance with returning to school after a mental health crisis, all of which require written parental consent. Additionally, the legislation mandates that schools establish clear guidelines for privacy, care coordination, and transition plans to ensure consistent support across the state.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jun 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jun 8, 2026 Last action Jun 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 3 edits

MINOR

The First Reprint of A5235 introduces a phased implementation approach for school mental health programs and consolidates effective dates. Instead of requiring all schools to comply simultaneously, the amended bill allows the Commissioner of Education to select pilot schools for the first 19 months before mandating compliance statewide. Sections 3, 5, and 6 now take effect at six months rather than the 25th month, though the phased rollout in section 2 effectively delays full compliance.

SCOPE

Section 2 now requires only schools selected by the Commissioner of Education (in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families) to develop comprehensive mental health support programs for the first 19 months after enactment (from month 6 through month 25). After that period, all school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects must comply. Previously, all schools were required to comply from the effective date.

TIMELINE

Section 9 was restructured: sections 3, 5, and 6 now take effect six months after enactment instead of on the first day of the 25th month. Section 2 also takes effect at six months (unchanged). The overall timeline is compressed from a four-tier staggered schedule to a three-tier one.

TECHNICAL

The entire STATEMENT section summarizing the bill's provisions was removed from the reprint text.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 28, 2026

Committee

Recommitted to Assembly Budget Committee

lower

Jun 23, 2026

Committee

Transferred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

lower

Jun 8, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

lower

2 primary · 5 co-sponsors