---
type: "Bill"
title: "Establishes requirements for closures of private career schools and institutions of higher education, modifies review process of new academic programs, and requires approval of branch campuses.*"
description: "Establishes requirements for closures of private career schools and institutions of higher education, modifies review process of new academic programs, and requires approval of branch campuses.*"
jurisdiction: "us/states/nj"
legislature: "New Jersey Legislature"
session: "219"
identifier: "S 1271"
citation: "New Jersey S 1271 (219)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["HIGHER ED"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Cunningham, Sandra B.", "Downey, Joann", "Gopal, Vin", "Jasey, Mila M.", "Reynolds-Jackson, Verlina"]
version_count: 3
action_count: 13
vote_count: 7
first_action: "2020-02-10T05:00:00+00:00"
last_action: "2021-03-01T05:00:00+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/81fbfea9-caae-4360-8a24-bbe262b2c259"
source_url: "http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/downloads.asp"
source_hash: "489012a7fcdabe67f5e5eb5b88fa063be122fefd653b2862614c99db87488f00"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-nj"]
---

# New Jersey S 1271 (219) — Establishes requirements for closures of private career schools and institutions of higher education, modifies review process of new academic programs, and requires approval of branch campuses.*

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced Version** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/S1500/1271_I1.HTM)
2. **Reprint of Substitute S2588 S2660** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/S1500/1271_R1.HTM)
3. **Senate Committee Substitute S2588 S2660** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/S1500/1271_U1.HTM)

## Votes

- Reported favorably out of committee — **4–0** (pass) · lower
- Reported out of Senate committee as a substitute — **12–0** (pass) · upper
- Reported favorably out of committee — **4–0** (pass) · upper
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **56–16** (pass) · lower
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **39–0** (pass) · upper
- CONCUR ASMB AMEND — **34–0** (pass) · upper
- Reported out of Assembly committee with amendments — **9–2** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Cunningham, Sandra B. — primary (person)
- Downey, Joann — primary (person)
- Gopal, Vin — primary (person)
- Jasey, Mila M. — primary (person)
- Reynolds-Jackson, Verlina — primary (person)
- Turner, Shirley K. — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2020-02-10T05:00:00+00:00** Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee `introduction, referral-committee`
- **2020-08-17T04:00:00+00:00** Reported out of Senate Committee, 2nd Reading `committee-passage`
- **2020-08-17T04:00:00+00:00** Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee `referral-committee`
- **2020-08-25T04:00:00+00:00** Reported from Senate Committee as a Substitute, 2nd Reading
- **2020-08-27T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Senate (39-0) `passage`
- **2020-09-14T04:00:00+00:00** Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee `referral-committee`
- **2020-10-08T04:00:00+00:00** Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee `referral-committee`
- **2020-11-12T05:00:00+00:00** Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading `committee-passage`
- **2020-11-16T05:00:00+00:00** Substituted for A4409 (ACS/1R)
- **2020-11-16T05:00:00+00:00** Passed Assembly (56-16-2) `passage`
- **2020-11-19T05:00:00+00:00** Received in the Senate, 2nd Reading on Concurrence
- **2021-01-11T05:00:00+00:00** Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (34-0) `passage`
- **2021-03-01T05:00:00+00:00** Approved P.L.2021, c.27. `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/81fbfea9-caae-4360-8a24-bbe262b2c259`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official New Jersey legislature records).