18A:4-1.3 "Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson" established.
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3. a. There is hereby established in the Department of Education a Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson. The Youth Disconnection Prevention and Recovery Ombudsperson shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Governor shall appoint the ombudsperson no later than the 90th day following the date of enactment of this act. The ombudsperson shall report directly to the Commissioner of Education and shall only be answerable to the commissioner.
The ombudsperson shall maintain a collaborative relationship with the Secretary of Higher Education. The ombudsperson shall implement a Statewide strategic plan of action to prevent individuals aged 16 to 24 from disconnecting from school, address the need for the reengagement of disconnected youth, and develop strategies to increase reengagement.
b. The ombudsperson shall serve for a term of four years and until the appointment and qualification of a successor. A vacancy occurring in the position of the ombudsperson shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except that if the ombudsperson dies, resigns, becomes ineligible to serve for any reason, or is removed from office, the Governor shall appoint an acting ombudsperson who shall serve until the appointment and qualification of the ombudsperson's successor.
The ombudsperson shall be a person of recognized judgment, integrity, and objectivity, and shall be skilled in communication, conflict resolution, and professionalism. The ombudsperson shall have hands-on practical experience working with disconnected youth and demonstrated higher-level leadership in an agency, institution, or organization that directly or indirectly addresses the subject of disconnected youth.
L.2023, c.277, s.3.