FAIRFIELD – It’s common for candidates to talk about their bipartisan prowess.

Jay Webber, the Republican candidate in CD-11, seems determined to do more than just talk. Webber held a press event in township hall Friday morning  to highlight his sponsorship of the so-called “pass the trash” bill. While that’s not the most elegant name in the world, the bill addresses the serious issue of teachers accused of sexual abuse hopping from school district to school district.

That disturbing pattern has occurred over the years because district administrators fearful of lawsuits often would keep quiet about the alleged, or actual, sexual misdeeds of a former teacher or administrator. So it had been relatively common for a teacher under investigation to leave one district, get a job with another, and sometimes repeat the abuse.

Webber says he became aware of the problem when he learned of one such teacher, Jason Fennes, who had taught in Butler and Montville, both of which are in Webber’s 26th state Assembly District.

When he finally was arrested, Fennes admitted in court to having sex with a teenage girl while working in Butler. He then got a job in Montville and admitted to molesting four other pupils while teaching first grade. Still later, he admitted to abusing a girl at a school in Somerset County.

Webber said he began researching options and came up with a bill that requires districts to disclose if teachers are resigning because of sexual misconduct allegations. The bill also grants districts immunity for sharing such information.

It took awhile, but the bill eventually passed unanimously and was signed earlier this year by Gov. Murphy.

Webber, who was honored for his work with a plaque by Fairfield police, said the legislation would protect hundreds and thousands of school children going forward.

Jim Sandham, the former mayor of Montville, said the legislation was the most important achievement he witnessed during his more than a decade in local government.

Webber agreed, calling it his “proudest” legislative accomplishment.

Keeping with the bipartisanship theme of the day, Webber praised such Democrats as then Assemblywoman Marlene Caride and state Sen. Teresa Ruiz for helping push the bill through. He also complimented Murphy for signing it.

Webber was then asked if he was surprised that a Quinnipiac Poll two days ago showed Murphy with a statewide approval rating of 54 percent. Only 32 percent disapproved.

Webber said Murphy is not nearly that popular in the 11th District and criticized him for raising taxes.

Bipartisanship has its limits.