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: FOR RELEASE:     Immediate    
: June 19, 2006      
:        
: CONTACT:   Jim Griffin                         
: Tel: (609) 292-5215 

: SENATE APPROVES TURNER/DORIA/GIRGENTI BILL TO PROTECT PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATORS 

: TRENTON -  The Senate today gave unanimous approval to legislation sponsored 
: by Senators Shirley Turner, Joseph Doria and John Girgenti that would define 
: any assault on a nonpublic school teacher or administrator as an aggravated 
: assault. 

: "No teacher should ever have to worry about being assaulted by a student," 
: said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and Chair of the Senate Education Committee. 
: "But the penalty for harming a teacher should not be dependent on whether 
: that individual teaches in a public or private school. Charging tuition 
: shouldn't result in less stringent punishments for students acting in such a 
: deplorable way." 

: Under the current law, a student who assaults any school board member, 
: school administrator, teacher, school bus driver or other employee of a 
: school board, while engaged in the performance of his duties is charged with 
: aggravated assault.  A recent Supreme Court decision held that the enhanced 
: protection did not apply to private school teachers because the statute does 
: not specifically include private school employees and the legislative 
: history suggests that the Legislature sought to address only those actions 
: that occur in public schools. 

: "As a long-time educator, I know that the differences between public and 
: private school teachers is minimal, from the skills they use to the 
: challenges they face," explained Senator Doria, D-Hudson, who was the 
: sponsor of the original legislation. "All teachers should enjoy the same 
: protections when it comes to keeping themselves free from physical harm 
: while performing their duties.  That was our intent when the law was first 
: passed and now we're making that clear." 

: "The Supreme Court decision brought to our attention a loophole in the law 
: that didn't make much sense," explained Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and 
: Passaic.  "We saw no reason why there should be anything but parity between 
: public and nonpublic schools when it comes to issues of safety. This bill is 
: taking the steps necessary to make sure all educators are equally 
: protected." 

: The bill, S-1633/1740, would respond to the court decision by adding 
: specific language to include administrators and teachers of private schools 
: within the upgrade provisions of the assault statute. 

: Aggravated assault is a crime of the third degree if the victim suffers 
: bodily injury; otherwise it is a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the 
: fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 18 
: months, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or both.  A crime of the third degree 
: is punishable by a term of imprisonment between three to five years, a fine 
: not to exceed $15,000.00 or both.  Simple assault is a disorderly persons 
: offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail. 

: The bill now goes to Governor's desk for his signature. 

: ###


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