News & Releases

17 Oct: Codey Hailed As ‘Champion’ By Statewide Mental Health Organization

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey was presented with the “Mental Health Champion” award by NAMI-NJ (National Alliance on Mental Illness – NJ Chapter) at the Statehouse last week for his tireless advocacy on behalf of mental health issues in New Jersey.

NAMI-NJ is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families who are affected by mental illness. The award is given to individuals whose contributions lead to better quality care, treatment and understanding of mental illness.

17 Oct: Lesniak And Caraballo Press For Higher Ed Options Review

TRENTON – The Legislature’s Task Force on Higher Education and the Economy will begin considering multiple merger options to create a world-class research university when it convenes for its first meeting on Thursday, November 9th, the panel’s two co-chairs announced today.

“We will consider several options for merging the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University to create the very best health science, technology and research university in the country,” said Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union.

16 Oct: Karcher Bill To Prohibit Payment Of Tdi Benefits To Criminals Advances

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would prohibit the payment of temporary disability benefits when disability is incurred as the result of a fourth degree crime or gross misconduct was approved by the Senate Labor Committee by a vote of 3-0.

“The State Disability Fund should not be in the business of subsidizing illegal activities and dangerous misconduct,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “It should act as a safety net for people who are legitimately injured and cannot work due to their injuries. We need protections in place to ensure that the TDI fund is not plundered by greedy cons looking for a State handout and taking advantage of a worthwhile program.”

16 Oct: Vitale Bill To Give Adoptees Access To Birth Certificates Approved

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would give adoptees and certain others access to the adoptee’s original birth certificate and other related family information was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 9-0, with one abstention.

“Questions like ‘Where did I come from?’ cut to the very core of identity,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “For some adopted individuals, that question can lead to a lifelong search for birth parents, costing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and months, if not years, of their time. In New Jersey, we should give adoptees the support and resources needed to answer some of the most fundamental questions of identity, by allowing them access to their original birth certificates.”

16 Oct: Vitale/ Sacco Bill Protects Temporary Workers From Employment Agencies

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Nicholas J. Sacco to prohibit a temporary help firm from withholding or diverting wages from an employee was approved by the Senator Labor Committee.

“This measure is another way to both protect the temporary workers in New Jersey, and also crack down on the illegal van services used to commute to and from work,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “This particular bill seeks to prevent temp agencies from forcing their clients to pay for illegal van services in order to get paid.

16 Oct: Turner Measure Would Create Joint Committee On Affordable Housing

TRENTON – A proposal by Senator Shirley K. Turner to create a new joint committee in the Legislature to monitor the State’s efforts in providing affordable housing to its residents was approved today by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

“New Jersey has a widespread affordable housing shortage that in some communities is approaching crisis proportions,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and a leading Senate advocate for more affordable housing. “Ask New Jersey families trying to get by on low-wage jobs or seniors living on fixed incomes about their struggles to pay the rent each month and it becomes obvious that we need to do more about the cost of living in New Jersey.”

16 Oct: Turner Wants Police Officers In High Schools And Middle Schools

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner today said New Jersey should respond to the “plague of violence in our society” by placing police officers in every high school and middle school in the State.

“It’s a sad, but necessary response to the plague of violence in our society that police officers should be on the job at every high school and middle school in New Jersey,” said Senator Turner, the Chair of the Senate Education Committee.

16 Oct: Turner Measure Would Deny Development Subsidies To Employers Of Illegal Aliens

TRENTON – The Senate Labor Committee gave unanimous approval today to legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would deny state and local development subsidies to any business found to employee illegal aliens.

“Development subsidies are only effective if the company receiving those funds reinvests them into the community,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “When companies receive loans, grants and tax breaks it is with the intention of creating more jobs and expanding the local tax base. When illegal aliens are employed instead, our communities lose all of the benefits of these subsidies.”

16 Oct: Rice Bill Looks To Create Incentives For Renovating Fire Damaged Buildings

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice to allow a municipality to grant short-term tax exemptions for organizations using volunteer labor when rebuilding houses destroyed by fires was approved today by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

“Trying to rebuild a home in the wake of losing so much to a major disaster is devastating,” said Senator Rice, Chairman of the Committee. “We need to do what we can to lessen the burden on homeowners. Without tax exemptions, the owners may no longer be able to afford their homes because of the higher taxes assessed to the now, significantly more valuable home.”

12 Oct: Senator Gill Notes Progress Of Life-Saving Needle Exchange Plan

TRENTON – Senator Nia H. Gill today applauded the legislative progress of her bill, S-494, to authorize needle exchange programs which will bring New Jersey closer to containing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Senator Gill’s measure, which would authorize trial needle exchange programs in six municipalities, was approved today the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee and now goes to the full Senate. It advanced with a $10 million appropriation that is to be used solely to expand drug treatment programs.