News & Releases

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Fred H. Madden which would provide the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) access to the State’s sex offender database was unanimously approved by the Assembly today, receiving final legislative approval.

“DYFS must stand as a shield to protect our kids from all dangers, including those posed by sexual predators,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “To be truly effective in that regard, New Jersey has to provide the agency with the tools it needs to get the job done. By opening up sex offender information to DYFS caseworkers, we can ensure that New Jersey’s children receive the best protection possible from the world’s dangers.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would require a court order for admittance into the Moderate Security Unit (MSU) at the New Lisbon Developmental Center was unanimously approved by the Assembly today, receiving final legislative approval.

“The MSU at New Lisbon serves a vital role in providing a structured environment for developmentally disabled individuals who are prone to violence,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health Committee. “Some flourish under this kind of setup, but it’s not intended for everybody. We need strict regulations in place to ensure that the MSU isn’t misused as a day care center for developmentally disabled residents, when placing nonviolent residents in the program jeopardizes their safety.”

NEWARK – Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblymen Peter J. Barnes and Gordon M. Johnson today held a news conference at the Robert Treat Center to discuss identical bills they are sponsoring to help provide better service for victims of crime here in New Jersey, while saving nearly one million dollars per year in taxpayer dollars by fully revamping the State’s Victims of Crime Compensation Board (VCCB).

“When the board was founded it was designed to use monetary penalties that were imposed on criminals to help compensate their victims for their pain and suffering,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. ” Since then, its original mission has been clouded by a wave of patronage appointees who do not take their positions seriously. With this legislation, our goal is to tighten up the agency and make sure that the people in leadership roles are actually on the job, doing what they are paid to do, and not taking off weeks at a time, leaving victims to suffer without compensation for even longer periods of time.”

TRENTON – Following today’s Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing on Medicaid fraud and waste detection, Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Joseph Coniglio renewed their calls to create a statewide preferred drug list (PDL) for all state-run prescription drug benefit programs.

“We’ve had this bill before the Senate for the past three sessions. It’s time to stop delaying on implementing a preferred drug list and move forward with this legislation,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “Given what we heard about Medicaid fraud and waste today, the savings a preferred drug list would bring could greatly cut costs and focus more dollars on treatment.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would enroll New Jersey in a multi-state agreement to streamline the licensing process for horse racing participants was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 38-0.

“Horse racing in New Jersey is a multimillion dollar industry that draws thousands of race fans to tracks like Monmouth Park during the height of the season,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “We have a proud tradition in the racing world, and we must maintain our competitive edge to bring in the biggest purses and the best races. This legislation will allow us to be on a level playing field with other states, and ensure that our horse racing professionals are not locked out of other markets because of incompatible licensing requirements.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would require a court order for admittance into the Moderate Security Unit (MSU) at the New Lisbon Developmental Center was unanimously approved by the Senate today.

“The MSU facility at New Lisbon is intended to serve a segment of the developmentally disabled population that needs a more structured environment,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health Committee. “It is a place where patients with a greater risk of violence are offered the care and treatment they need to live with their disability. To allow non-violent individuals with disabilities to mix freely with people that fit the MSU profile is a recipe for disaster, and is likely to get someone injured, or possibly killed.”

TRENTON – The NJ Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect would be given additional responsibilities to become an active participant in the fight against child abuse under legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and Joseph Vitale approved today by the State Senate.

“There are few crimes more despicable than child abuse and neglect and the State must make every effort possible to eradicate these scourges,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “This legislation with rejuvenate the Task Force and allow the State to more effectively bring the collective knowledge of the public to bear on issues of child abuse and neglect in New Jersey.”