SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2937

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  june 20, 2024

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2937.

      As amended by the committee, this bill requires definitions of Antisemitism and Islamophobia to be incorporated in this State’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging policies, and in any such policy applicable to recipients of State funds.

     The bill directs the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, established in the Office of the Governor pursuant to Executive Order No. 265 of 2021, to ensure that those definitions are incorporated in the policies of State agencies, personnel, and recipients of State funds concerning diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Specifically, the bill requires the inclusion of the following:

     (1)  the working definition of Antisemitism adopted on May 26, 2016 by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which states that “antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” The definition would include the “Contemporary Examples of Antisemitism” identified by the IHRA, to the extent they are useful for this purpose; and

     (2)  the working definition of Islamophobia adopted by the United Nations (UN), which states that “islamophobia is a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.” The definition would include any examples and guidelines identified by the UN, to the extent they are useful for this purpose.

     The requirements for the inclusion of these definitions of Antisemitism and Islamophobia, and their consideration in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging policies, would be applicable to all such policies issued by State agencies and recipients of State funds.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

     The amendments incorporate the text of the definitions of Antisemitism and Islamophobia within the text of section 1 of the bill.