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Committee advances bill awarding up to four years' seniority credit to veteran school support staff
Summary
A2746 would extend to educational support professionals who served in the U.S. military up to four years of seniority credit in their school districts; supporters said the change would protect underpaid support staff and honor veterans' service.
The Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee on May 7 released A2746, a bill that would allow educational support professionals who served in active U.S. military service and are eligible for federal veterans benefits to receive up to four years of employment or seniority credit in their school district.
Dan Staples, a math teacher, local association president and Marine Corps veteran, testified that the provision would extend a parity currently available only to teaching staff and would give ESPs—bus drivers, paraprofessionals, custodians and other support employees—added protection during budget cuts. "This small edge could make the difference in maintaining employment for veterans," Staples said.
Supporters included the NJEA (letter read into the record) and local veterans' representatives. A local union leader told the committee that seniority credit for support staff is typically a matter of local bargaining and that districts often favor credentialed staff during contract negotiations, leaving ESPs more vulnerable.
A committee member described recent local cuts—citing 82 ESPs laid off in one district—and said the bill could provide a statutory backstop for veterans in those positions. The panel moved and released the bill on a recorded roll call (six yes votes). The committee recorded no opposition testimony during the meeting.
