Councilman David G. Greenfield congratulated New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on signing into law a bill that will provide security guards for students at private schools throughout the state. The bill Christie signed was modeled on Greenfield’s historic legislation in the NYC City Council, which beginning this academic year will provide security guards at private schools throughout New York City.

“I worked hard to ensure that all of New York City’s schoolchildren could be safe in their places of learning, and I’m delighted that Governor Christie has decided to follow the example we set here in New York,” Greenfield said. “Private and religious school students have the same right to safety as anyone else.”

The Secure Schools for All Children Act, which was unanimously passed by both houses of the New Jersey state legislature, will provide $75 per pupil to non-public schools to help pay for security measures. That amount will be increased each school year by the consumer price index. “Oftentimes we have seen significant acts of intolerance and violence that have happened at our religious schools,” Christie said at a press conference Tuesday discussing his approval of the bill. “One of the reasons the legislature decided to move forward on this is we’re operating in different times now, unfortunately,” he added, pointing to increased risk of terrorism and anti-religious violence as reasons for signing the bill.

Greenfield’s legislation, which is more generous than the New Jersey law, takes effect this academic year and is already a major success, with dozens of private and religious schools of all stripes taking advantage of the opportunity to be fully reimbursed for private security guards. Applications for the 2016-17 school year will continue to be accepted until November 1, 2016. Schools interested in applying are encouraged to do so through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, or call Councilman Greenfield’s office for more information at (718) 853-2704.

(YWN Desk – NYC)