Bill Text: NJ AJR129 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates week of February 24 through March 2 of each year as "Say Something Week."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [AJR129 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AJR129-Introduced.html
No. 129
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2024
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates week of February 24 through March 2 of each year as "Say Something Week."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the week of February 24 through March 2 of each year as "Say Something Week."
Whereas, There is an epidemic of school violence in the country that is putting children's physical, mental, and emotional well-being at risk; and
Whereas, In 2018 there were 113 people killed in school shootings, making it the single worst year for school shootings in United States history; and
Whereas, Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and teenagers and in 2016 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were more than twice as many suicides as homicides; and
Whereas, Nearly 80 percent of school shooters told someone of their plans prior to the shooting and seven out of 10 people who commit suicide tell someone or give an indication of what they are planning; and
Whereas, Empowering youth to recognize warning signs and get help for individuals before they hurt themselves or others can help save countless lives; and
Whereas, "Say Something Week" is designed to raise awareness and provide learning opportunities to middle and high school students, teaching them what to do in the event they learn of a potential threat of violence; and
Whereas, The primary objectives of "Say Something Week" are to teach students to look for warning signs, signals, and threats, to act immediately, to take signs and threats seriously, and to say something to a trusted adult before someone hurts themselves or others; and
Whereas, Creating lasting change requires that schools engage with the students and the larger school community to create concrete steps that students can take when they learn of potentially violent acts; and
Whereas, By building a culture of students looking out for one another and reporting possible threats of violence when someone sees, reads, or hears something, entire communities will become safer and lives will be saved; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The week of February 24 through March 2 of each year shall be designated as "Say Something Week" to raise awareness and promote activities that protect school communities from violence before it happens.
2. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation designating "Say Something Week" and call upon public officials, public high schools and middle schools, and all citizens of the State to observe this week with appropriate events and activities.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates the week of February 24 through March 2 each year as "Say Something Week" to help prevent youth violence in schools. The goal of the week is to train and empower students to know what to do if they hear about a potential violent incident being planned. Nearly 80 percent of school shooters told someone of their plans prior to the shooting and seven out of 10 people who commit suicide tell someone or give an indication of what they are planning. By giving students and the school community the support and training they need, New Jersey can reduce the amount of violence in schools that threaten students on a daily basis.
