Patrick J. Diegnan (born March 19, 1949) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2002, where he represents the 18th legislative district.
Contents |
He was born and raised in South Plainfield, New Jersey, graduating from South Plainfield High School in 1966.[1] Residents of South Plainfield, Diegnan and his wife Anita have been married for 35 years and have two children, Heather and Tara. Heather and her husband, Frank Paragano, graced the family in February 2009 with the birth of their daughter, Vanessa.[2]
Diegnan received a B.A. from Seton Hall University in Political Science / Government and was awarded a J.D. from the Seton Hall University School of Law.[2] Currently, Diegnan is an attorney in private practice in South Plainfield and is a member of the New Jersey and Middlesex County Bar Associations since 1974. He is also a former instructor of law and accounting at Middlesex County College.[2]
Diegnan was first elected to represent the 18th Legislative District in 2001, and was re-elected to his fifth term in 2009.
Diegnan has served in the Assembly as Deputy Speaker (since 2008) and Parliamentarian (since 2005), and is Chairman of the Education Committee and a member of the Regulated Professions and Consumer Affairs Committees.[3] He was also the first chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee.[2]
Diegnan was the primary sponsor of Assembly Bill 3331, introduced in 2003, which creates the certification of Technology Education for teachers.[4]
In 2011, he was the primary sponsor of Assembly Bill 3852, which requires voter approval at the annual school election or by the board of school estimate before a new charter school can be authorized to operate in a district.[5] Under the existing system, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education can grant charters regardless of community opinion, with Diegnan noting that allowing voters and local boards of education a say in the granting of new schools would "help ensure that the charter schools that are created fit the needs of the community". The bill passed in the Assembly in June 2011 by a 47-17 margin.[6]
Diegnan was the primary sponsor of legislation requiring school districts to develop policies to address the issue of concussions in student athletes. Assembly Bill 2743, signed into law on December 7, 2010, requires development of interscholastic athletic head injury safety training program; requires certain measures to protect student athletes with concussions; and requires continuing education for athletic trainers.[7] According to State Senator Richard Codey, one of the sponsors of the Senate version of the bill, his efforts led to the creation of, "The most comprehensive bill on concussions in the country, by far."[8]
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 18th District for the 2010-2011 Legislative Session are:
The 18th Legislative District includes East Brunswick Township, Edison Township, Helmetta Borough, Metuchen Borough, South Plainfield Borough, South River Borough and Spotswood Borough.