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CRYAN & QUIJANO BILL TO PROHIBIT POLITICAL FUND-RAISING AT GOVERNMENT FACILITIES SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblyman Joseph Cryan and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano sponsored to prohibit the soliciting of campaign contributions on public property by elective public office candidates and ban people from making contributions to such candidates on public property has been signed into law.
The law comes amid reports by The Star-Ledger about allegations that jobs and promotions in the Elizabeth schools were tied to the amount of money employees contribute to school board candidates and others running for political office.
“It’s long past time to close this loophole that unfortunately has led to disturbing concerns about political activity in school facilities,” said Cryan (D-Union). “Schools must be for educating our children. They are not for political fund-raising. This is common sense.”
Under the law (A-4432), no candidate or holder of elective public office – or a candidate’s representative – can solicit any contribution on property exclusively owned or leased by the state, any agency of the state or any county, municipality, board of education, fire district, authority or other state or local entity, district or instrumentality.
At the same time, no person, while located on any property exclusively owned or leased by such entities will be permitted to make any contribution to or on behalf of any candidate for elective public office or to a candidate committee or joint candidate committee.
“We must make it clear that such activity in public facilities owned by government is unacceptable,” said Quijano (D-Union). “There is a right time and place for politics, but places like schools should be kept clear to protect not only the children, but the taxpayers who fund these facilities. We need to draw a strict and clear line in the sand.”
The law also confers jurisdiction upon the Election Law Enforcement Commission to enforce the lawl. Anybody violating the law would be liable to a penalty of not less than $5,000 for each violation.