Governor Jon S. Corzine

GOVERNOR CORZINE VETOES LEGISLATION
TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today vetoed the following bill. The conditional veto message is reprinted below.
A-17/S-9 (Watson Coleman, Conaway, Stack, Mayer, Lampitt, Greenwald, Cruz-Perez, Burzichelli, Vas, Greenstein/Adler) – CONDITIONAL VETO – Eliminates various mandates imposed on public school districts.

ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 17

To the General Assembly:

Pursuant to Article V, Section I, Paragraph 14 of the New Jersey Constitution, I am returning Assembly Bill No. 17 with my recommendations for reconsideration.
This bill seeks to eliminate various State mandates imposed on public school districts. I commend the sponsors of this bill for their efforts in responding to Recommendation 26 of the Special Session Joint Legislative Committee’s December 1, 2006 School Funding Final Report, calling for the elimination of a variety of unnecessary State mandates. The bill rightfully eliminates several unnecessary mandates and gives school districts the flexibility needed to conduct business in the most effective and least costly manner.
I further agree with the removal of State mandates requiring public schools to commemorate a variety of holidays, leaving commemoration decisions to be made by the school districts themselves. Nonetheless, I am concerned with including Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day among the list of those holidays whose observance is left to local discretion. Given the past sacrifices of our veterans and the sacrifices now being made by those serving in the Armed Forces, especially the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service to their country, it is imperative that New Jersey school children be reminded of those valiant men and women who have demonstrated their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. I am further concerned about the bill’s removal of the observance of President’s Day, Columbus Day and Commodore Barry Day, each of which serves as needed recognition of the many great leaders who have helped form this nation.
Accordingly, I herewith return Assembly Bill No. 17 and recommend that it be amended as follows:
Page 7, Section 5, Line 1: Delete “Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day,�

Page 7, Section 5, Line 2: Delete “Columbus Day, Veterans
Day,�. After “Thanksgiving Day,� insert “and�. After “Arbor Day� delete “, and� and insert “.�

Page 7, Section 5, Line 3: Delete “Commodore Barry Day.�

Page 7, Section 6, Line 6: After “N.J.S. 18A:36-8;� insert “and�

Page 7, Section 6, Line 7: After “N.J.S. 18A:36-9� delete “;� and insert “.�

Page 7, Section 6, Line 8: Delete “N.J.S. 18A:36-11;�

Page 7, Section 6, Line 9: Delete “N.J.S. 18A:36-12; and�

Page 7, Section 6, Line 10: Delete “N.J.S. 18A:36-13.�

Page 7, Section 7, Line 12: Insert new Section 7 as follows:

“7. P.L.1967, c.271 (18A:36-13) is amended to read as follows:

Appropriate exercises for the development of a higher spirit of patriotism shall be held in all public schools on the last school day preceding [Lincoln's Birthday,] Washington's Birthday (also celebrated as President’s Day), Decoration or Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day [, and Thanksgiving Day, and on such other patriotic holidays as shall be established by law].�

Page 7, Section 7, Line 12: Renumber Section 7 as Section 8