Hooked on Fishing and Not on Drugs

by Greg Kucharewski, JCAA Youth Education Director

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association June 2007 Newsletter)

JCAA helped move the Hooked on Fishing and Not on Drugs (A636) out of committee and now we need to get the Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (District 5) to post the bill. Tom Fote attended the hearing for JCAA and the NJSFSC. Remember, it is an election year and you should remind Speaker Joseph Roberts that we are watching to see what happens with this bill in the Assembly. We will be contacting the Chairman of the Environmental Committee, Senator Robert Smith, and ask him to have a hearing on of the bill S138/636. We will keep you informed and this will be covered in a lot more detail in the next JCAA Newspaper. You also need to write Governor Corzine and ask him to support this bill.

Dear Assemblyman/woman,

The JCAA membership wants you to notify Governor Corzine that you support Bill S138/636 utilizing monies not from tax dollars but rather from a fund paid into by drug offenders. A636 is out of committee and now we need to get the Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (District 5) to post the bill.

This is an important piece of legislation concerning the Hooked On Fishing - Not On Drugs program. S138/A636 would establish within the Division of Fish and Wildlife the HOFNOD coordinator position and would fund the program with $200,000. The funds would come from the Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund. All the monies in that fund are from people arrested for drug offenses. In this way, money gathered from people who use drugs is being put back into the communities to help prevent drug use. We are asking for your support for S138/A636. We need more ammunition to fight the war on drugs to teach youngsters about healthy outdoor activities that will complement New Jersey's outdoor programs.

The money in the fund can only be used for anti-drug/alcohol programs and to support Bill S138/A636. The children and families of New Jersey need your support to make this happen. Please make your plea to Governor Corzine and ask him to support this worthwhile bill that is sure to make a difference to the youth of New Jersey that will participate in the “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” national outdoor program.

Thank you for your consideration.

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