Hate Crimes Legislation Signed

passage of bill (0.00 / 0)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the hate crimes bill received unanimous approval from both the Senate and the Assembly, which speaks well for our legislature.  

Between this, the death penalty bill, and some other measures, I'm rather pleased with some of the actions coming out of Trenton these days.

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by: Martin @ Mon Jan 14, 2008 at 23:06:01 PM UTC

It was unanimous in the Senate 35-0 (4.00 / 1)

the Assembly  vote was 65-10, the Repugnican  mountain men and women voting against it!

It was unanimous in both the Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committees.

Babs

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

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by: Babs NJSD @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 00:28:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Jay, hon, a very gentle correction (0.00 / 0)

The bill is not about transgender youth in schools.  

The bill is, for all practical purposes, two separate bills that Garden State Equaltiy and the New Jersey Anti-Defamation League, which wrote the legislation and presented it to the sponsors, combined.

The first part of the bill adds "gender identity and expression" as a protected class to the state hate crimes law.  This covers all transgender people, not just youth specifically.  This part of the bill also strengthens the existing hate crimes law for other groups at risk.

The second part of the bill establishes a commission that has nine months to study and make recommendations to the legislature on yet further legislature to stop bullying in schools - bullying of all kids, including but certainly not limited to, bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

This part of the bill also requires schools to post their anti-bullying policies on the web, and distribute those policies to parents and guardians, within 120 days.

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by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair @ Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 11:46:07 AM UTC