In 2011, New Jersey imposed a law requiring all Board of Education members statewide to undergo background checks.

The legislation will also disqualify trustees from serving on the board if they have been convicted of certain first- and second-degree crimes, including any offense involving the manufacture, transportation, sale, possession, and distribution or habitual use of a controlled substance. Any crime involving the luring of a child, robbery, burglary, terroristic threats, bias intimidation, and aggravated assault are also included in the law.

The bill requires each school board member, within 30 days of being elected or appointed to the board, to undergo a criminal history background investigation. A board member holding office must undergo a background investigation within 30 days after the bill takes effect.

The law will pertain to local school district and charter school board members.