ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION No. 60

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 9, 2021

      The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably Assembly Joint Resolution No. 60.

      This bill would designate October 27th of each year as “Tree of Life Remembrance Day.”

      On October 27, 2018, a mass shooting fueled by religious and ethnic animus towards Jewish people occurred at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The senseless act of violence resulted in the loss of eleven innocent lives and injury to six others.  The people of New Jersey share the grief of the families and friends of those who were injured or killed, and the designation of October 27th of each year as “Tree of Life Remembrance Day” would allow New Jersey residents to annually recognize the victims of that mass shooting and honor their memories.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.