SENATE, No. 2323

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 11, 1997

By Senators BASSANO, MARTIN and MacInnes

An Act designating the Forensic Unit at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital as the "Ann Klein Forensic Unit."

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1.    The Legislature finds and declares that:

    a.    Ann Rosenweig Klein, who died February 23, 1986, led an extensive life of public service in the State of New Jersey, beginning in 1967 when she was elected president of the New Jersey League of Women Voters for a period of three years;

    b.    In 1971, Ann Klein was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, then resigned in 1973 to become a candidate for Governor of New Jersey;

    c.    Following this campaign, Ann Klein was appointed as the first woman commissioner of the Department of Institutions and Agencies and, when the department was reorganized and renamed the Department of Human Services in 1976, she served as that department's first commissioner;

    d.    During her years of service in Governor Brendan Byrne's cabinet from 1974 to 1981, Ann Klein, because of her great concern for all people, remained a passionate advocate for the rights of the poor, the disabled, the mentally ill, and the elderly and while devoting herself to improving the quality of life for institutionalized persons, she worked constantly for the normalization of life for disabled persons;

    e.    In 1982, following another campaign for governor, Ann Klein was appointed an administrative law judge until her resignation due to illness in 1984; and

    f.    It is altogether fitting and proper that the Forensic Unit at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital bears the name of Ann Klein, whose distinguished career in public service in New Jersey was marked by a compassionate commitment to and advocacy for mentally ill, institutionalized persons.

    2.    The Forensic Unit at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital is designated as the "Ann Klein Forensic Unit."

    3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill designates the Forensic Unit at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital as the "Ann Klein Forensic Unit" in honor of her distinguished record of public service to New Jersey and her tireless effort to improve the lives of others.

Designates the Forensic Unit at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital as the "Ann Klein Forensic Unit."