NJ S2442

New Jersey higher education institutions must review employment history of prospective employees who will have regular contact with students before hiring, requiring applicants to list all employers from the past 20 years where they worked at schools, colleges, or positions involving direct contact with children or students.

Applicants must disclose whether they have been subject to child abuse or sexual misconduct investigations, been disciplined or discharged due to such allegations, or had licenses suspended or revoked in connection with such allegations.

Former employers must respond to information requests within 20 days, and failure to respond may result in automatic disqualification of the applicant; employers providing requested information receive immunity from civil and criminal liability unless information is knowingly false.

Applicants who willfully provide false information or fail to disclose required information face discipline up to termination, potential criminal charges for false statements, and civil penalties up to $500.

Institutions are prohibited from entering agreements that suppress information about child abuse or sexual misconduct investigations or require expunging such records, and any contract provisions contrary to these requirements are void and unenforceable.