NJ S1479

Prohibits New Jersey colleges and degree-granting proprietary institutions from asking about applicants' criminal history on admission applications, with exceptions for serious offenses including homicide, human trafficking, kidnapping, and sexual assault.

Establishes a 24-member "Universal College Application Development Task Force" to create a standard application usable at any public, independent, or proprietary institution statewide, with a one-year deadline to submit recommendations.

Allows institutions to inquire about criminal history after admission for purposes of offering counseling services and making decisions about campus housing, activities, and participation in campus life.

Requires institutions denying admission based on enumerated serious offenses to notify applicants and provide an appeals process through the institution's disciplinary entity.

Exempts law schools from the criminal history inquiry restrictions, as bar admission requirements may disqualify applicants with certain convictions.