Your Legislators: Schroeder Promotes Bills Dealing with Sex Offenders

Assemblyman Robert Schroeder had a busy week for District 39 as he traveled to Hillsdale and Edison to promote a trio of bills.

On Tuesday, Schroeder and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz met with Rosemarie D’Alessandro, whose daughter was raped and murdered by a neighbor in 1973, eventually leading to “Joan’s Law.” Joan’s Law, or A2506, (with Schroeder as the primary sponsor) eliminates parole for people who molest and kill children 14 years old and younger. The law has been passed in New Jersey and New York and applies under federal law.

The meeting was held after Mark Lundsford was in the area this past week to convince legislators to adopt a version of “Jessica’s Law,” or A1767, (Schroeder co-sponsors). “Jessica’s Law” is named for Lunsford’s 9-year-old daughter, who was raped, tortured and then murdered by a child molester and rapist in Florida. The law seeks to impose minimum sentences for sex offenders, requires sex offenders to wear GPS tracking anklets for life and would require police to send random letters to sex offenders that ask them to update their addresses. The law has been passed in 44 states and is under consideration in New Jersey.

Currently New Jersey is one of six states that has not approved “Jessica’s Law” having stalled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee since May 2010.

***

On Wednesday, Schroeder was at the News 12 television station to film a segment on The Pet Stop on A3226 “Dusty’s Law.” Awaiting a hearing in the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, “Dusty’s Law” establishes a $100 to $500 fine for the owner of animal which attacks, injures or otherwise interferes with law enforcement animals, search and rescue dogs or service dogs.

The Pet Stop segment, hosted by Dr. Brian Voynick, veterinarian at American Animal Hospital in Randolph will be aired at a later date. Pet Stop is televised on Saturdays (7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.) and Sundays (12:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.) on News 12 New Jersey.

“Dusty’s Law” is named after a 9-month-old German Shepard puppy and his trainer Roger Woodhour who were attacked by a pitbull last August. Dusty was undergoing training at the time with the Seeing Eye campus in Morristown to become a service dog. While Dusty and Woodhour’s physical wounds healed, Dusty had to be removed from the training program due to subsequent trauma. He has since been adopted by a family.

***

While Trenton was packed with protestors on Wednesday about Governor Christie’s proposed changes for police and fire benefits and pensions, the New Jersey Senate and Assembly met in Chambers.

District 39 Sen. Gerald Cardinale co-sponsored S516, which was approved on a second reading in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The bill would authorize a central municipal court to hear cases brought by the county office of consumer affairs. According to the bill, only Bergen County meets the requirements outlined for a central municipal court to “adjudicate cases filed by agents of the county health department, members of the county police department and force or county park police system. In addition, the statute provides that a central municipal court may adjudicate other cases within its jurisdiction referred by the vicinage Assignment Judge pursuant to the Rules of Court.”