SENATE RESOLUTION No. 24
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JANUARY 27, 2014
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Allen, Ruiz and Beck
SYNOPSIS
Urges New Jersey interscholastic athletic conferences to adopt an equal pay scale for officials of public school girls and boys lacrosse games.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Education Committee on March 24, 2014, with amendments.
A Senate Resolution urging 1[the Directors of Athletics Association of]1 New Jersey 1interscholastic athletic conferences1 to adopt an equal pay scale for officials of public school girls and boys lacrosse games.
Whereas, By providing healthy forms of exercise, fostering friendships and camaraderie, promoting sportsmanship and fair play, and instilling the value of competition, interscholastic athletics often serve an integral role in the development of students; and
Whereas, Although their contributions to interscholastic athletics are often overlooked, it is an undeniable fact that participation in interscholastic athletics would not be possible without the hard work, dedication, and commitment from the individuals who officiate the games; and
Whereas, 1[The Directors of Athletics Association of New Jersey (DAANJ) recently proposed a] A1 new payment schedule 1has recently been proposed1 for individuals who officiate boys and girls lacrosse games for the 2014-2015 through 2016-2017 school year contract term; and
Whereas, Under the proposed new payment schedule, an individual who officiates a combination of both varsity and junior varsity boys lacrosse games is recommended to receive $135, and a person who officiates a combination of both varsity and junior varsity girls lacrosse games is recommended to receive only $124; and
Whereas, Prior to the newly-proposed payment schedule, individuals who officiated a combination of both varsity and junior varsity lacrosse games received the same amount regardless of whether that person officiated boys or girls games; and
Whereas, Although the game rules for boys lacrosse and girls lacrosse are not the same, individuals who officiate girls lacrosse games work just as hard as their counterparts who officiate boys lacrosse games; and
Whereas, A girls' game is played over a longer period of time (two 25-minute halves) than a boys' game (four 12-minute quarters), and the girls play on a longer and wider field than boys; and
Whereas, Given the length of time of play and the dimensions of the field, individuals who officiate girls lacrosse games have to cover more ground over a longer time period than those who officiate boys lacrosse games; and
Whereas, Paying individuals who officiate girls lacrosse games less than those who officiate boys lacrosse games sends a damaging message to the participants and supporters of girls' athletics, undercuts the years of advancements made since the enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. s.1681 et seq., and contradicts the crucial values of sportsmanship and fair play promoted by interscholastic athletics; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature urges the Directors of Athletics Association of New Jersey (DAANJ) to adopt an equal pay scale for officials of public school girls and boys lacrosse games.
2. 1[Duly authenticated copies of this Senate resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof] Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State1, shall be transmitted 1by the Secretary of the Senate,1 to each member of the Directors of Athletics Association of New Jersey 1, to each New Jersey interscholastic athletic conference,1 and to each public high school athletic director.