TRENTON, NJ – Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco sharply criticized a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Matt Platkin against three Monmouth County school districts over parental notification policies. In a strong statement, Bucco argued that the government should not interfere in the parent-child relationship and instead should concentrate on tackling rising crime.
“It’s ridiculous that while criminals are breaking into homes and stealing cars out of our driveways, the State attorney general continues to focus on identity politics,” said Bucco (R-25). He went on to condemn the Murphy administration for focusing more on activist lawsuits than on crime and public safety.
The lawsuit targets parental notification policies that allegedly violate state law, and the judge overseeing the case has ruled in favor of the AG’s injunction, preventing the schools from implementing the policies. A broader resolution may take months to reach.
During a hearing, Judge Bauman questioned the plaintiffs with a hypothetical scenario involving a young student, eliciting the response that even in such a case, the policy violates the law.
Bucco, who had previously questioned AG Platkin about his priorities during his 2022 confirmation hearing, reiterated his belief that the focus should be on law enforcement and public safety.
“It is clear that the attorney general should be focused on supporting our law enforcement personnel to address issues like crime and car thefts, not getting government in between parents and kids,” Bucco concluded. The statement reflects a wider debate over governmental roles in education and parental rights, highlighting a deeply polarized issue that continues to divide lawmakers and the public.