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. 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. Electoral history New Jersey Senate New Jersey Assembly References External links Senator Diegnan's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 Assembly Member Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., Project Vote Smart New Jersey Voter Information Website 2003 1949 births Living people Democratic Party New Jersey state senators Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly New Jersey lawyers People from South Plainfield, New Jersey Politicians from Middlesex County, New Jersey Seton Hall University School of Law alumni 21st-century American politicians