January 31, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen
Senator Diane Allen (R- Burlington), co-prime sponsor of New Jersey’s landmark Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (ABBRA), said today that she is committed to making any legislative fixes necessary to preserve the legislation in light of the laws rejection by the State Council on Local Mandates.
“The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act is absolutely the correct response to increased incidences of bullying in our schools,” said Allen. “While I disagree strongly with the Council’s rejection of the law, the Legislature needs to fix the law in accordance with the Council’s findings in order to preserve this important legal protection for children.”
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January 19, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen
Legislation sponsored by Senator Diane Allen (R- Burlington) permitting active duty military service members to be married or enter into a civil union by proxy has been signed into law by Governor Christie.
Marriage by proxy allows an attorney to “stand in” for a service member and complete the legal necessities of marriage or civil union, thereby conferring tax treatment, health benefits, and power of attorney to a service member’s partner while he or she is serving in armed conflict or war.
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January 19, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen,
Senator Jennifer Beck
Legislation creating an affirmative defense for sexually exploited juveniles charged with prostitution and diverting them to intervention and child protective services by the state has been signed into law by Governor Chris Christie.
S-2599, sponsored by Senator Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth), affirms that persons under the age of 18 cannot willingly consent to engaging in sexual solicitation and would require their treatment as victims in the eyes of the law. Senator Diane Allen (R- Burlington) is also a sponsor of the legislation.
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January 11, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen,
Senator Tom Kean
Legislation arising from the Caylee Anthony tragedy in Florida has been signed into law by Governor Christie.
The measure, “Caylee’s Law”, was sponsored in the state Senate by Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) and Diane Allen (R- Burlington). The law upgrades to a crime of the fourth degree failure to report the death of a person while creating a new crime, also of the fourth degree, of failing to report the disappearance of a child within 24 hours.
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January 9, 2012
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen,
Senator Jennifer Beck
Legislation creating an affirmative defense for sexually exploited juveniles charged with prostitution and requiring these victims be offered intervention and protective services by the state has been approved by the Senate.
S-2599, sponsored by Senators Diane Allen (R- Burlington/Camden) and Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth/Mercer), affirms that persons under the age of 18 cannot willingly consent to engaging in sexual solicitation and would require their treatment as victims in the eyes of the law.
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December 15, 2011
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen,
Senator Tom Kean
Legislation sponsored by Senators Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) and Diane Allen (R- Burlington) upgrading penalties for failing to report the disappearance or death of a child passed both houses of the legislature today and heads to Governor Christie’s desk.
If signed, “Caylee’s Law” the bill upgrades the charge for failing to report the death of a person to the proper authorities. It would now be a fourth degree crime. A new crime of failing to report the disappearance of a child within 24 hours is also created under the legislation, carrying fourth degree penalties as well.
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December 15, 2011
Contact: Brad Schnure / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen,
Senator Robert W. Singer
Legislation that would increase the penalty for illegally passing a school bus has been approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The measure, S-400, is sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-30) and Senator Diane Allen (R-7).
“We know from school bus drivers that people routinely ignore the flashing red lights that are meant to protect children when they are crossing to and from their buses,” said Singer. “It’s clear that the current monetary penalties, as low as $100, are simply not enough to discourage drivers from breaking the law and putting children at risk. This legislation is an important step that will help stop preventable tragedies from occurring.”
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December 12, 2011
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen
Senator Introduces Burlington County Prosecutor at Reappointment Hearing
Senator Diane Allen (R- Burlington/Camden) today praised the Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval of Burlington County Prosecutor Robert Bernardi’s reappointment for a third term in office.
“Prosecutor Bernardi has done an excellent job as the top law enforcement official in Burlington County, working day in and day out to keep our communities safe,” Allen said. “He has led the fight to take on gangs and drug violence in the county, as well as for long sentences for sex offenders and child predators.”
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December 8, 2011
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen,
Senator Jennifer Beck
Legislation sponsored by Senators Diane Allen (R- Burlington/Camden) and Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth/Mercer) that changes the way state law treats minors charged with prostitution has cleared the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. Persons under the age of 18 who are charged with prostitution will be given treatment and child protective services by the state. The bill also establishes an affirmative criminal defense in these proceedings based on status as a minor.
“The law needs to recognize that children cannot consent to engaging in commercial sex acts or prostitution; that these children are victims of predators rather than criminals in their own right,” said Allen. “This legislation treats these children as the victims they truly are and, like any other abused or neglected minor in need of protection, provides the services necessary to help them cope and move on to live productive lives.”
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November 21, 2011
Contact: Adam Bauer / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen,
Senator Tom Kean
Legislation sponsored by Senators Tom Kean, Jr. (R- Union) and Diane Allen (R- Burlington) upgrading penalties for failing to report the disappearance or death of a child has cleared the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Known as “Caylee’s Law”, the bill increases the penalty to a crime of the fourth degree for failing to report the death of a person to the proper authorities. A new crime of failing to report the disappearance of a child within 24 hours is also created under the legislation, carrying fourth degree penalties as well.
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