ZERO TOLERANCE FOR GUNS ACT

The Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, in Chapter 37 of Title 18A of the NJ Statutes, has established a "Zero Tolerance for Guns Act".

Any pupil who is convicted or adjudicated delinquent for possession of a firearm or a crime while armed with a firearm or found knowingly in possession of a firearm on any school property, on any school bus, or at a school-sponsored function shall be immediately removed from the school's regular education program pending a hearing to remove the pupil from the regular education program for a period of not less than one calendar year subject to modification on a case-by-case basis by the chief school administrator.

For the purposes of this section "firearm" means those items enumerated in N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1f and 18 U.S.C. 921.

Any pupil that is removed from the regular education program pursuant to this section shall be placed in an alternative education program.  If placement in an alternative education program is not available, the pupil shall be provided home instruction or other suitable facilities and programs until placement is available.