For Immediate
Release:
March 9, 2021
Commissioner
Director Arnone issues statement calling on New Jersey County Commissioners to
urge legislators to revise A5342
FREEHOLD, NJ – On behalf of the Monmouth County
Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone issued
the following statement calling on New Jersey Boards of County Commissioners to
urge legislators to repeal or revise Assembly Bill A5342, which was signed into
law on Monday, Feb. 22:
“I truly believe that all of the legislators that
voted on Assembly Bill 5342 did not know that there was a component in the
legislation that would prohibit law enforcement from notifying parents if a
minor is found in possession of or using marijuana and alcohol for the first offense.
By passing this new law, the Legislature is sweeping
aside the judgment of parents over the lives of their children; and is tying law
enforcement’s hands with respect to keeping kids and communities safe.
While I find it truly disturbing
and discouraging that legislation with such serious implications for law
enforcement officers and families was passed with little to no discussion, it
is more important now for them to fix their mistake.
We understand that our
legislators are revisiting this legislation and there are discussions to
introduce legislation to repeal A5342. I am glad to see our concerns are being
addressed and that there are going to be steps taken to rectify this detrimental
error in judgement.
But now we need to keep the
pressure on. There are many bills that get introduced and do not go anywhere.
We need to make sure that action is taken—and taken quickly.
That is why I am encouraging all
of the other Boards of County Commissioners in New Jersey to do what’s right and
push our legislators to pass legislation to repeal or revise A5342.
As I continue to stress, this is not a Republican or
Democrat issue. This is a matter of right and wrong and a matter of allowing
parents to keep their children safe.”
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