The following items are taken from reports issued by legislators and other items of political concern.
Lunsford Act
The Assembly Judiciary Committee has advanced legislation, A892, titled the Jessica Lunsford Act, which is cosponsored by 9th District representatives Sen. Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove.
The act, which is named after the Florida girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered by a convicted sex offender, requires mandatory terms of imprisonment for persons convicted of aggravated sexual assault against a child under the age of 13 for a specific term of years fixed by the sentencing court, between 25 years and life imprisonment of which 25 years or more must be served before parole eligibility.
The release of A892 by the Assembly Judiciary Committee follows action taken on the Senate side by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, which favorably released the Senate version of the Jessica Lunsford Act, S215, on Jan. 30 of this year. S215 is awaiting action in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
The delegation issued the following statement upon the Jessica Lunsford Act being released from committee:
”For nearly a decade, our delegation has cosponsored and consistently advocated in favor of enacting the Jessica Lunsford Act here in New Jersey. Undoubtedly, the key provisions of the Jessica Lunsford Act would enhance public safety as sexual predators who prey upon children would be incarcerated for longer periods of time as opposed to being released onto the streets.
”Victims’ interests would be better served under our judicial system as the courts would be enabled under the law to mandate that sexual predators serve sentences befitting of the heinous nature of their crimes. For these and other compelling reasons, there is tremendous support for this legislative initiative among concerned parents, grandparents, community groups and local public officials, including in our Legislative District, who remain actively engaged in the effort to safeguard children through strengthening our state’s sexual offender laws.
”Importantly, this legislation is supported by Mark Lunsford, Jessica’s father, who has become a highly visible advocate for 50-state passage of Jessica’s Law, making sexual assault on a child a first-degree crime with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 25 years.
”Critical to the continued advancement of this legislation is that both the Senate and Assembly versions of the Jessica Lunsford Act have strong bipartisan support from representatives across the state.
”In the previous legislative session, the Senate passed a version of the Jessica Lunsford Act that contained a provision that would have increased penalties for harboring a sexual offender. Several months later, the Assembly passed a version of the legislation that removed the harboring provision.
”Due largely in part to the differing language in the bills passed by each House, neither of the Jessica Lunsford Act initiatives reached the governor’s desk. In the current session, both the Senate and Assembly versions are identical so, hopefully, we can avoid a repeat of last session and finally have the Jessica Lunsford Act as law in New Jersey.
”Separate legislation has been introduced that would increase penalties for harboring or concealing a sex offender who has not complied with the registration requirements under Megan’s Law.”
The 9th District delegation has established an online petition drive in support of the Jessica Lunsford Act as well as other sex offender legislation that residents can sign by visiting the delegation’s legislative website at http://district9.senatenj.com.
Sen. Connors and assembly members Rumpf and Gove also are prime sponsors of legislation that would require sexual offenders be tiered (determination of risk for re-offense) prior to their release from prison. Currently, the ability of an offender to obtain housing following their release is a determining factor in the tiering level.
Information on Megan’s Law and the New Jersey Sex Offender Internet Registry can be found on the state attorney general’s website.
Fatherhood
An Assembly panel has approved legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Troy Singleton, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Pamela Lampitt, Gary Schaer and Benjie Wimberly to develop a Responsible Fatherhood Initiative in New Jersey geared toward strengthening the development of children throughout the state by promoting the positive involvement of both parents in their lives.
”There are many different factors that might inhibit a father’s involvement in their children’s life,” said Assemblyman Singleton, D-Burlington. “Whether it’s a strain in the relationship with a child’s mother, somebody who never had a positive male role model in their life as a child or simply somebody who hasn’t learned to take responsibility, the goal of this initiative is to promote positive interactions between fathers and their children and identify obstacles that impede or prevent their involvement in the lives of their children.”
The bill (A945) would establish a 21-member New Jersey Council on Responsible Fatherhood in the Department of Children and Families in order to promote the participation of both parents in the lives of their children, identify needs and priorities relating to fatherhood programs in the state and support the contributions each parent brings to the family unit.
”This measure would capitalize on our existing resources to increase public awareness of how children are impacted when they’re raised without the presence of responsible fathers,” said Assemblywoman Watson Coleman, D-Mercer, Hunterdon. “Our goal is to create strategies and initiatives to encourage the responsible participation of fathers in their children’s lives to help eliminate some of the obstacles in their development.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about half of all children spend some part of their life apart from one or both of their parents, and, most often, the parent who does not live with the child is the father.
The laws governing parental relationships are the responsibility of the state, but the federal government does provide funding for, among other things, responsible fatherhood grants for activities such as counseling, mentoring, marriage education, enhancing relationship skills, parenting and fostering economic stability.
”There are a number of factors that may impact a father’s ability or willingness to participate in their child’s life,” said Assemblywoman Lampitt, D-Camden, Burlington. “For those who grew up without a positive male role model in their life, things like counseling and mentoring can make all the difference and, hopefully, produce happier, more well-adjusted children.”
”Fatherhood is one of the greatest responsibilities a person can have, and it is certainly not one to be taken lightly,” said Assemblyman Schaer, D-Bergen, Passaic. “Whenever fathers can be encouraged and supported to develop and maintain more meaningful relationships with their children, the outcome can only result in benefits to our society.”
”This is not a responsibility that can be forced, but one that can be learned if a father is willing,” said Assemblyman Wimberly, D-Bergen, Passaic. “We see more and more young fathers who grew up without somebody to model this role for them. As a father of four school-aged sons with a very hectic schedule, I still find the time to be at their football, baseball, basketball, parent-teacher conferences and other activities. I believe with some help and guidance, they can mature into a positive influence in their child’s life.”
To that end, the bill directs the council to apply for available grant money from the federal government, private foundations or other sources, which may be available for programs related to responsible fatherhood and, in turn, provide grants to community-based organizations within New Jersey to establish, expand or improve fatherhood programs.
The bill requires the council to direct the development and implementation of a Responsible Fatherhood Initiative; develop a comprehensive plan that identifies the needs and priorities relating to fatherhood programs in the state and promotes the positive involvement of fathers in their children’s lives; serve as an information and resource center for data and information on fatherhood programs; review the programs, policies and initiatives of various state departments and community-based organizations that concern responsible fatherhood; and make recommendations to the departments and organizations on ways to better coordinate and improve the effectiveness of their programs, policies and initiatives.
The initiative would be geared toward children whose families have or are receiving public assistance, but shall not exclude any other population of children who may benefit from the programs or services offered by the initiative.
The initiative shall be responsible for the development of a public awareness campaign; an information and support network for fathers trying to foster relationships with their children; and plans to identify and promote methods that reduce the negative outcomes experienced by children affected by divorce, legal separation and custody and visitation disputes.
Finally, the bill requires the council to report to the governor and the Legislature annually on the activities of the council and its findings and recommendations regarding the coordination and effectiveness of state programs, policies and initiatives concerning responsible fatherhood.
The bill was approved by the Assembly Women and Children Committee and now awaits consideration by the full Assembly.
Red lights
Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Ralph R. Caputo, Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., Ruben J. Ramos Jr., L. Grace Spencer, Cleopatra Tucker, Annette Quijano and Valerie Vainieri Huttle to require public elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey be equipped with a panic alarm and red emergency light for use in a school security emergencies has been approved by an Assembly committee.
”Time is of the essence when it comes to school security emergencies,” said Assemblyman Caputo, D-Essex, who introduced the bill in the wake of the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. “Directly linking a panic alarm to local law enforcement authorities to enable them to respond quicker is common sense. It’s commonplace technology and something that should be done to better protect our children.”
The bill (A373) requires that all public elementary and secondary schools be equipped with a panic alarm for use in a school security emergency, including, but not limited to, a nonfire evacuation, lockdown or active shooter situation. The alarm would be an addition to existing security systems.
”Just last month, a school shooting in Nevada left a teacher dead and two young students wounded,” said Assemblyman Diegnan, D-Middlesex. “We must do everything we can to protect our kids and our teachers. This is one incremental remedy, but it can be put in place economically and quickly. There is no excuse for delay.”
”The last thing you want to do in an emergency is make an already chaotic situation worse,” said Assemblywoman Spencer, D-Essex. “The alarm and red light would quietly signal law enforcement to an emergency at the school without tipping off an intruder and increasing the risk to students and staff members.”
”It’s a sad reality, but we must equip our schools against the potential threat of an armed intruder,” said Assemblywoman Tucker, D-Essex. “These emergency systems help give students, parents and staff the peace of mind that, in the case of an emergency, there is a direct link to local law enforcement.”
”A quick response from law enforcement to an emergency can make all the difference in the outcome,” said Assemblywoman Quijano, D-Union. “We owe it to these children and the adults charged with their care to have help arrive as soon as possible if they are ever confronted with a life-and-death situation.”
”In an emergency, every minute counts,” said Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen. “It is particularly crucial when children are involved. Too many schools have been targeted, and too many innocent people have paid the price. Beefing up school security to better protect our children is a necessity.”
The bill defines a panic alarm as a silent security system signal that can be manually activated to signal a life-threatening or emergency situation that requires a response from law enforcement.
The alarm, which would not be audible within the school building, must be directly linked to local law enforcement and immediately transmit a signal or message to the authorities upon activation.
In the case of a school building located in a municipality where there is no police department, the panic alarm would be linked to a location designated by the superintendent of state police.
The bill also requires a red emergency light be affixed to the exterior of all public elementary and secondary school buildings in a highly visible location above or near the front entrance visible from the nearest public road. In the case of a school building that is not clearly visible from the nearest public road, the emergency light would be located on that public road. The light would be linked to the school’s panic alarm so it turns on when the alarm is activated.
Under the bill, the full cost of these systems shall be funded by the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued to fund the state share of the costs of Schools Development Authority district school facilities projects or the state share of the costs of school facilities projects in all other districts.
The bill was released by the Assembly Education Committee chaired by Assemblyman Diegnan.
Allergies
Bipartisan legislation sponsored in part by Assembly Democrat Marlene Caride to amend current law to allow trained school officials to administer epinephrine to a student suffering from a life-threatening allergic reaction without parental consent or a prescription from a doctor in an emergency situation has been advanced by an Assembly panel.
Epinephrine is used in emergencies to treat very serious allergic reactions to insect stings or bites, foods, drugs or other substances. Epinephrine acts quickly to improve breathing, stimulate the heart, raise a dropping blood pressure, reverse hives and reduce swelling of the face, lips and throat.
”Children spend a significant amount of time in school,” said Assemblywoman Caride, D-Bergen, Passaic. “It is vital that schools be able to help a child who is suffering from a bad allergic reaction. This helps avoid a worse-case scenario where a child who could have been helped with a shot of epinephrine gets very sick or worse because there was no written consent from the parent or no epinephrine to begin with.”
Current law requires boards of education and nonpublic school administrators to develop policies concerning the emergency administration of epinephrine to a student provided the student’s parent or guardian provides written authorization for administration of the epinephrine and written orders from a physician the student requires epinephrine for anaphylaxis.
Assemblywoman Caride’s bill (A304) would amend the law concerning the emergency administration of epinephrine to require school nurses and trained designees be permitted to administer epinephrine to any student, in addition to those with written parental authorization and written orders from a doctor, when the nurse or designee in good faith believes the student is having an anaphylactic reaction.
”With food allergies among children on the rise, many schools are removing certain products from their menus to prevent endangering children who are allergic,” she said. “But an allergy may not reveal itself until the child has an actual attack. Having epinephrine ready for administration in the case of an emergency is another way schools can protect these students.”
Under the bill’s provisions, public and nonpublic schools would be required to maintain a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors — that is prescribed under a standing protocol from a licensed physician — in a secure, but unlocked location that is easily accessible to the school nurse and trained designees for administration.
The bill also amends the law providing immunity from liability to school employees and agents for good faith acts or omissions concerning the emergency administration of epinephrine to specifically include a physician providing a prescription under a standing protocol for school epinephrine.
Lastly, the bill specifies that, in the event a licensed athletic trainer volunteers epinephrine, it would not be in violation of the Athletic Training Licensure Act.
The measure was released by the Assembly Education Committee.

