JerseyVotesNo.com dedicated to informing New Jerseyans about the dangers of the “Freedom to Distribute Obscene Materials to Minors Act.”

Senators Zwicker and Ruiz introduce bill amending the criminal code to shield educators from being charged with violating the NEW JERSEY CODE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW 2C:34-3 – Obscenity for Persons Under 18 ____________________________________________________________

Trenton, New Jersey: The New Jersey Family Policy Center (NJFPC) – a pro-family organization that is part of a vibrant national alliance of 40 state policy councils across the nation, relaunched www.JerseyVotesNo.com on Monday, February 5, 2024 to educate the public on the dangers of Senate bill 2421, the so-called “Freedom to Read Act,” sponsored by Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-Hillsborough) and Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark).

Senate bill 2421 was introduced on Monday, Jan 29, 2024, and sent to the Senate Education Committee. The accompanying identical Assembly bill 3446, sponsored by Assemblywoman Mitchell Drulis (D-Princeton), Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-Paterson), and Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Delran) was introduced on Thursday, Feb 1, 2024, and assigned to the Assembly Education Committee.

The New Jersey Family Policy Center was immediately alarmed by the potential legal ramifications of the bill and the serious public harm to the perception, and management of, New Jersey public schools. Four major sweeping changes that will take effect if the bill passes include:

1. Teachers, teaching staff members, school librarians, and staff members of public libraries are given “an affirmative defense to a prosecution” for violating NEW JERSEY CODE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW 2C:34-3 – Obscenity for Persons Under 18, when performing their job duties. N.J.S.A. 2C:34-3, which defines obscenity for persons under eighteen as any depiction of a specified anatomical area or specified sexual activity. Violation of the statute is a crime. This bill would carve out an exemption for certain school employees. Section 13 of S2421/A3446

2. Removal of local control from elected boards of education, as the bill lists eight different requirements school boards must adopt “at a minimum” that wields complete decision-making power to librarians and not to parents regarding the age-appropriateness of sexually explicit graphic books. Section 4 of S2421/A3446

3. Silences parents from expressing their disagreements regarding the decisions made by school librarians and teachers to distribute obscene material as defined in the law. This bill states parents can be held financially liable for court and attorney’s fees for objecting to the actions of librarians and teachers. Section 7 of S2421/A3446

4. Grants “protective class status” to library media specialists and teaching staff members (similar to race, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, etc.) under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination – preventing local school boards from holding them accountable for distributing obscene sexually explicit materials to children. Section 14 of SS2421/A3446

“Once again, our State is seeking to take away parents’ and community members’ rights to determine what is in their local schools. The so-called Freedom to Read Act is not promoting freedom. It is State control of local libraries and if you criticize or express concerns, you are guilty of harassment. We will continue to fight and encourage everyone to say NO to State control of our schools.”

Karyn White Esq, Pacific Justice Institute

“I still have a tough time trying to wrap my mind around the intent and purpose of the bill. It is a flat-out mockery of words to disingenuously portray the bill as, “The Freedom to Read Act.” The tragic implication of the bill can be more accurately defined as “The Freedom to Distribute Obscene Materials to Minors Act,” as it obliterates the current state law that prohibits adults from knowingly showing, exhibiting, and promoting obscene materials to Minors Under 18.”

Shawn Hyland, Director of Advocacy, New Jersey Family Policy Center

“The NJEA identifies teacher shortages, teacher retention, ongoing learning loss due to COVID-19, and the increasing mental health crises among our young people as major issues they are facing, yet the progressive left are obsessed with pushing age-inappropriate and outright obscene material to minors this time under the guise of a ‘Freedom to Read Act.’ New Jersey families deserve better. This aggression against parents and our children will not stand.”

Allan Wright, Executive Director, New Jersey Family Policy Center

The New Jersey Family Policy Center is urging all New Jerseyans to contact their legislators by visiting www.JerseyVotesNo.com and completing the Action Alert form.

Furthermore, NJFPC urges the bill sponsors to withdraw the bill and explain why they believe amending the New Jersey criminal code regarding the distribution of obscene materials to children creates a positive outcome for students and their families.