N.J. Stat. tit. 18A, ch. 54A

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 18A:54A-1 Short title

This act shall be known as, and may be cited as, the "Neighborhood Education Center Act of 1968." L.1968, c. 182, s. 1, eff. July 19, 1968.

N.J. Stat. § 18A:54A-2 Liberal construction

This act shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes and intent thereof. L.1968, c. 182, s. 2, eff. July 19, 1968.

N.J. Stat. § 18A:54A-3 Legislature's findings

3. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there is a need for new programs and institutions capable of reaching and motivating the high-school dropout; that the experience gained by the creation of neighborhood education centers in other States indicates that those centers may be a partial answer to the problem of the high-school dropout; that the Commissioners of Education and Community Affairs should be authorized to establish such neighborhood education centers; and that the expenditure of public funds for those purposes is in the public interest. L.1968,c.182, s.3; amended 1994,c.48,s.68.

N.J. Stat. § 18A:54A-4 Definitions

The following terms shall have the following meanings for the purposes of this act, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context: (a) The term "act" shall mean this act, and any amendments and supplements thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. (b) The term "commissioner" shall mean the Commissioner of Community Affairs. (c) The term "council" shall mean the Governor's Council on Neighborhood Education Centers created by section 5 of this act. (d) The term "neighborhood education center" shall mean a facility which has been or will be developed, organized or operated, subject to the approval and with the assistance of the Governor's Council on Neighborhood Education Centers created by section 5 of this act, for the purpose of providing to public high school students and to public high-school dropouts educational, cultural and social programs and services supplementary to or in lieu of similar programs and services made available as part of the course of instruction at a public high school. (e) The term "sponsor" shall mean any corporation or association organized not for profit pursuant to the provisions of Title 15 of the Revised Statutes which has been determined by the council as capable of developing, organizing or operating a neighborhood education center. L.1968, c. 182, s. 4, eff. July 19, 1968.

N.J. Stat. § 18A:54A-5 Governor's Council on Neighborhood Education Centers created; membership; officers

5. There is hereby created in but not of the Department of Community Affairs the Governor's Council on Neighborhood Education Centers, which shall consist of the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Commissioner of Education who shall be members of the council for such times as they shall hold their respective offices. The commissioner shall serve as the administrator and chief executive officer of the council, and shall have primary responsibility for the activities of the council. The Commissioner of Education shall serve as the chairman of the council, which shall meet at the call of said chairman. L.1968,c.182, s.5; amended 1994,c.48,s.69.

N.J. Stat. § 18A:54A-6 Authority of council

(a) The council, acting by and through the commissioner, is hereby authorized to develop, organize or operate, or to provide for the development, organization and operation, of not more than 8 neighborhood education centers. (b) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act, the commissioner, on behalf of and with the approval of the council, is hereby authorized to enter into contracts and agreements with, and to make payments of money based thereon to, sponsors of neighborhood education centers. L.1968, c. 182, s. 6, eff. July 19, 1968.

N.J. Stat. § 18A:54A-7 Commissioner's additional powers

7. In order to carry out the purposes and provisions of this act, the commissioner, in addition to any powers granted to him elsewhere in this act, shall have the following powers: (a) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the discharge of his duties and the execution of his powers under this act; (b) To appoint or employ, subject to the provisions of Title 11 of the Revised Statutes, such personnel and employees as may be necessary in his judgment; (c) To receive and accept aid or contributions from any source, of money, property, labor or other things of value, to be held, used and applied to carry out the purposes of this act subject to any conditions upon which such grants and contributions may be made; (d) To call upon and avail himself of, so far as may be practicable and within the limits of appropriations available therefor, the services of employees of the Departments of Community Affairs and Education; (e) To acquire by purchase, gift or lease, sell, lease and otherwise deal with property, whether real or personal or mixed; (f) To adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary or convenient to carry out the provisions of this act; and (g) To do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the provisions of this act. L.1968,c.182, s.7; amended 1994,c.48,s.70.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026