Assembly members Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., Valerie Vainieri Huttle & Gordon M. Johnson

COMMITTEE RELEASES MEASURE TO NAME SUNSHINE LAW IN BYRON BAER'S HONOR

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson sponsored to rename the Open Public Meetings Act in honor of its sponsor, retired state Senator Byron M. Baer, was released by an Assembly committee today.ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE:
June 1, 2006

CONTACT:
Assembly Speaker Roberts
(856) 742-7600
Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle
(201) 541-1118
Assemblyman Johnson
(201) 541-1118
James Sverapa IV
(609) 292-7065

COMMITTEE RELEASES MEASURE TO NAME SUNSHINE LAW IN BYRON BAER'S HONOR

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson sponsored to rename the Open Public Meetings Act in honor of its sponsor, retired state Senator Byron M. Baer, was released by an Assembly committee today.

"Few men in their lifetime have done more to advance the cause of open government in New Jersey than Byron Baer," said Roberts (D-Camden). "Senator Baer's impressive and colorful legacy deserves to be recognized and preserved."

The legislation (A-3251) would rename the Open Public Meetings Act, commonly referred to as "The Sunshine Law," in honor of Senator Baer and his efforts. As an Assemblyman, in 1975, Baer was instrumental in the enactment of this groundbreaking legislation, which greatly enhanced public access to state and local government decision making and which sparked a nationwide trend toward making government-held information more available to the public.

"Senator Baer was a man and a legislator truly ahead of his time," said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). "He has been at the forefront of nearly every human rights, civil rights, and good government reform effort in this state over the last quarter century. His retirement late last year has left a legacy I only hope I am lucky enough to emulate."

"It was a deep privilege to serve alongside a man who believed so strongly in the civil rights movement that he marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King and was jailed for over a month for his role as a Freedom Rider in the 1960's," said Johnson (D-Bergen). "It was that kind of belief that led him to sponsor our Sunshine Law. And it's that kind of passion that gives him this much-deserved distinction."

The Assembly State Government Committee unanimously released the measure. It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post the bill for a floor vote.

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