Today’s Issue: Can educators read books aloud while live streaming, or post books online, without violating copyright laws? Answer: In response to COVID-19 and remote learning, many children’s publishers have temporarily altered their policies to permit educators to read to their students remotely. The School Library Journal has compiled a searchable list of publishers and […]

Today’s Issue: Will the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) begin to hear in-person plenary hearings in the month of June? Answer: No. The OAL does not anticipate conducting in-person plenary hearings in June. The OAL will continue to hear emergent matters via telephone or Zoom and will conduct conferences and oral argument via telephone. The […]

Today’s Issue: Can Boards of Education approve purchase orders after goods are received or after services are rendered? Answer: No. Purchase Orders (POs) must be issued in advance. There is no legal basis for a “Confirming Purchase Order” prepared after the work is done. Fiscal Indicator DPR #15, effective July 1, 2018, provides that “[t]he […]

Today’s Issue: How many people may attend an in-person, outdoor commencement ceremony? Answer: State guidance says graduations must meet the relevant capacity limitation on in-person gatherings in place at the time of the ceremony. Currently outdoor gatherings are limited to 25 people, though that is expected to change in the coming months. Holding multiple ceremonies […]

Today’s Issue: Under the Open Public Meetings Act, is a public body permitted to hold a special meeting telephonically? Answer: Yes. Provided that the public body is in compliance with the 48 hours adequate notice requirement for a special meeting, pursuant to Executive Order 107, Department of Community Affairs guidelines, and A3850/S2294, P.L. 2020, c.11, […]

Today’s Issue: Can a Board of Education require a member of the public to provide his or her name and place of residency prior to making a public comment at a Board of Education meeting? Answer: Yes. The Open Public Meetings Act does not limit the ability of a public body to regulate the active […]

Today’s Issue: Does P.L. 2020, C. 27 require that school districts continue to pay stipends for coaches and advisors for spring sports and other extracurricular activities? Answer: Yes. Under sections 9.e.(1) and (2), during the period of school closure, both those employees covered by a collective negotiations agreement and those that are not, shall be […]

Today’s Issue: Can New Jersey schools hold in-person graduation ceremonies? Answer: YES. According to a Tweet by Gov. Murphy, beginning July 6, 2020 schools may host outdoor graduation ceremonies that comply with social distancing. NJ will release guidance on 5/27/20 for social distancing requirements, including the maximum number of people allowed to attend these ceremonies. […]

Today’s Issue: Would COVID-19 qualify as an “occupational disease” under New Jersey’s Workers’ Compensation Law? Answer: It may. Public safety workers such as Police Officers and EMTs who contract communicable diseases are compensated under the law. Other employees must demonstrate that it is more probable than not they contracted COVID-19 as a result of the […]

Today’s Issue: Can I go to the beach this weekend? Answer: Yes. Governor Murphy opened all beaches, boardwalks, lakes, and lakeshores, subject to social distancing restrictions. While the public bathrooms are open, all other recreation areas and retail businesses will be closed. Picnicking is also allowed in State Parks and Forests. Happy Memorial Day! Resources: […]