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Senate committee amends, releases bill requiring schools to teach gambling risk
Summary
The committee amended and released S-36/66 to require instruction on compulsive-gambling risks as districts implement New Jersey student learning standards; the bill’s effective date is tied to the commissioner’s training module and standards review.
A Senate committee on an unspecified date amended and released S-36/66, a bill that would require school districts to provide instruction on the risk of compulsive gambling as part of implementation of the New Jersey student learning standards and comprehensive health and physical education.
The bill’s committee amendments specify that the curriculum should include information on the difference between probability and predictability as it relates to gambling and that the bill’s provisions take effect only after the commissioner develops the required training module and the State Board of Education completes its review and update of the student learning standards.
Francine Pfeiffer of the New Jersey Education Association told the committee the association supports teaching students about gambling risks but emphasized that curriculum decisions are ultimately a local district responsibility and that standards should remain the purview of the Department of Education and the State Board of Education. "Perhaps this could be in financial literacy standards," she said, adding that elements of probability could be taught in math classes.
Jenny Lamon, assistant director of government relations for the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, voiced appreciation for the amendment aligning the bill’s implementation date with the standards review. Lamon said, however, that comprehensive health and physical education has become "a dumping ground" and urged flexibility so districts may teach the material in financial literacy or statistics if they prefer.
Senator Turner moved to amend and release the bill; Senator Osteen seconded. A roll call recorded affirmative votes from Senator Paulistina, Senator Josefel, Senator Turner, Vice Chairman McKeon (left a vote in the affirmative), and Chairman Beach. The bill was amended and released from committee.
The committee record shows no testimony opposing the bill. The amendments tie the bill to the State Board of Education’s standards process and to a training module from the commissioner, which staff and witnesses said should reduce implementation friction for districts.
The bill now proceeds out of committee for further legislative consideration.
