News & Releases

EDISON – Citing concerns over individuals with criminal convictions found to be working in school districts, Senator Barbara Buono announced that she will be introducing legislation this fall to ensure that individuals disqualified under state law to work with children are in fact, prevented from being employed by school districts. According to a State Auditor’s review of 21 sampled school districts, six disqualified individuals were found to be working in school districts after being deemed unfit by the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance (OFAC) due to criminal records.

“It is inexcusable that individuals with criminal records slipped through the system and have access to children,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Additional safeguards need to be implemented immediately before any children are harmed.”

MARLBORO – Adding to her record as the leading ethics reform advocate in the State Senate, four ethics bills sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher were signed into law today. The laws will aide in cracking down on corrupt officials and hold them accountable for their actions. Senate bills S-1318, S-1192, S-3008 and S-1662 are part of an aggressive ethics reform agenda that is turning the page on corruption and abuse in New Jersey.

“My career in public service began here in Marlboro, where I asked the tough questions and worked with the FBI to send corrupt officials to jail,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “When I arrived in the Statehouse four years ago, I knew the task was going to be daunting but I have fought against corruption, and sponsored 16 ethics reform bills that have been signed into law. Today, we add four more bills to that list – four more ways to end the culture of corruption in New Jersey.”

MARLBORO TOWNSHIP – Senator Barbara Buono, a leading proponent of ethics reform in the Senate, said the legislation she co-sponsored (S-1192 and S-1318) which Governor Corzine signed today is a long-overdue reaction to the broken trust between public officials and the people they serve.

“Silence can’t be golden when public corruption knocks at the front or the back door,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “These bills reflect an effort to express our collective outrage and to act so that the punishment fits the crime.”