!!  URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT !!

Your Immediate Action Needed (1-24-03)

New Jersey School Boards Association 1-888-88NJSBA www.njsba.org

STOP S-1049!!

On Monday, January 27, 2003, the Senate Education Committee will consider S-1049, legislation sponsored by Senator Gerald Cardinale, R-Bergen, that would give the School Ethics Commission the authority to police the "private actions" of school board members from a "moral" perspective. It would amend the Code of Ethics for School Board Members to include a new provision: "I will act to protect the health, welfare, and good moral character of children, and will take no private action which may compromise such, health, welfare, and good moral character."  No other set of elected officials in the state of New Jersey would have their "private actions" or "morals" adjudicated by a state agency in such a manner.

This bill is unfair and would set a double standard. Time is short. You need to register your opposition now with the sponsor and the members of the committee.

What you can do:  Contact Senator Cardinale and the Senate Education Committee members TODAY and express your OPPOSITION TO S-1049:

Senator Gerald Cardinale, D.D.S. (R-39)

Phone: 201-567-2324 Fax: 201-567-8514 E-mail: SenCardinale@njleg.org 

Senator Robert J. Martin (R26) - Co-Chair

Phone: 973-984-0922 Fax: 973-984-8094 E-mail: SenMartin@njleg.org  

Senator Shirley K. Turner (D15) - Co-Chair

Phone: 609-530-3277 Fax: 609-530-3292 E-mail: SenTurner@njleg.org  

Senator Byron M. Baer (D37)

Phone: 201-343-3333 Fax: 201-343-1594 E-Mail: SenBaer@njleg.org 

Senator Wayne R. Bryant, Esq. (D5)

Phone: 856-757-0552 Fax: 856-541-0426 E-mail: SenBryant@njleg.org  

Senator William L. Gormley (R2)

Phone: 609-646-3500 Fax: 609-646-6735 E-mail: SenGormley@njleg.org  

Senator Joseph A. Palaia (R11)

Phone: 732-531-1303 Fax: 732-531-1048 E-mail: SenPalaia@njleg.org  

Please let NJSBA know what action you took and if you received a response by e-mailing jsico@njsba.org.  Thank you!