News & Releases

27 Jun: Smith/ Sweeney Measure To Permit Increased Use Of Absentee Ballots Clears Senate

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Bob Smith and Stephen M. Sweeney that would permit any legally registered voter to use an absentee ballot, under any circumstances was approved today by the Senate.

“The right to vote is such a definitive American value, and by expanding the power of the absentee ballot for New Jersey voters, we are upholding the core of American democracy that was cherished by our forefathers,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “To have a true representative government you need the input and participation of the people you represent. By giving voters greater availability to take advantage of the absentee ballot, we are engaging more people in the political process and allowing them to determine their own fate in regards to their representatives in local, county, state and federal offices.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Paul A. Sarlo

27 Jun: Girgenti/Sarlo Bill To Allow Firefighters To Earn College Credit

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators John A. Girgenti and Paul A Sarlo, which would require county colleges to award college credits to firefighters for completion of certain courses in county fire academies, was approved today by the full Senate.

“Firefighters demonstrate true bravery when they risk their own lives, and storm into burning buildings in order to save our property and our lives,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic and Chairman of the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee. “Firefighters gain hands on experience that can go beyond class room courses. This bill would allow firefighters to transfer their fire academy credits to a county college. By earning the credits while working, these men and women can work towards a college degree.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases

27 Jun: Doria Bill To Allow Public Entities To Collectively Bid For Energy Approved In Senate

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria which would allow public entities to collectively bargain for energy services with the State in certain circumstances was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 37-0.

“Collective negotiations are very effective in leveraging better deals for the negotiators, but when municipalities, counties, and other public entities can say they have the State in their corner, that’s a whole new level,” said Senator Doria, D-Hudson, Vice Chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee. “This bill would give local governments access to New Jersey’s vast pool of experience and resources in negotiating energy prices, and would most likely save taxpayers’ dollars for the residents served by those governments.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Shirley K. Turner

27 Jun: Bill To Study Special Education Best Practices Passes Assembly

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Shirley K. Turner to establish the Special Education Review Commission to study special education best practices from around the state received finals legislative approval today.

“Each year, New Jersey’s school districts face budgets where an increasingly larger share of funds are taken up by special education. We need to identify those programs and practices that are most effective and efficient,” said Senator Adler, D-Camden. “The recommendations of this committee will distill the methods of over 600 school districts and provide schools with new ideas for meeting the special needs of those with learning and physical disabilities. The goal must be to improve education while reducing the cost to schools.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Shirley K. Turner

27 Jun: Turner Bill To Ease Transition For New Teachers Through Senate

TRENTON – New teachers could begin classroom work even if their teaching certificate is still pending under legislation sponsored by Senator Turner and given final legislative approval by the Senate today.

“There was great concern that the recent backlog of teacher certifications would cause our schools to begin turning away new, highly qualified teachers and as a result, college students would be discouraged from pursuing an education degree,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and Chair of the Senate Education Committee. “With projected teacher shortfalls in the future, this possibility is simply unacceptable. It is critical that school districts have the leeway needed to hire qualified individuals to begin teaching without having to wait for their teaching certificate application to be processed.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases

27 Jun: Buono Measure To Study Impact Of Freight Trains On Local Neighborhoods Passes Committee

TRENTON – The Senate Transportation Committee approved a resolution today sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono that would create the “Smart Freight Railroad Study Commission” to study the impact of additional short-line freight railroads in northern New Jersey and put a moritorium on new freight traffic on the Lehigh Valley Railroad short-line freight track from Edison to Bound Brook until the Commission has completed its report.

“An increase in freight rail traffic on these rail lines is going to have a discernable impact on the quality of life in the neighborhoods the pass through,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Before the State spends any money to increase the capacity and use of these rail lines, we need to conduct a comprehensive study of the potential impact additional trains will have on the residents of these communities. The consequences may not justify the benefits in the end.”

By DMUAdmin Joseph Vitale News & Releases

23 Jun: Vitale-Buono Family Care Bill Receives Key Budget Committee Approval, Emergency Approval In State Senate

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would overhaul the State’s FamilyCare health insurance program for the working poor was given unanimous approval by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, and received an emergency vote and approval in the State Senate by a vote of 38-0.

“There’s an old saying that a society is judged by how we treat our most vulnerable members, and in New Jersey, we will now do better,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “New Jersey FamilyCare was a revolutionary program when it was first-adopted by the State, but recent cuts due to budget shortfalls have hurt the effectiveness of the program, and forced the State to scale back coverage. A redesigned FamilyCare program to provide access to quality health care for all of our least fortunate residents will put New Jersey back on the map in terms of meeting our obligation to help the working poor.”

By DMUAdmin Joseph Vitale News & Releases

23 Jun: Vitale: New Jersey One Step Closer To Universal Health Care

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and a prime sponsor of legislation which will restructure New Jersey’s FamilyCare program to provide access to quality health care for New Jersey’s working families, issued the following statement on today’s emergency vote and unanimous approval of his bill:

“Today, the New Jersey Senate took a bold, but necessary step to ensure that all of our State’s residents, regardless of their economic background, have access to the quality health care that they need.

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Nia H. Gill

23 Jun: Gill Legislation To Divest Pension Investments In Sudan Advances

TRENTON – Senator Nia H. Gill, D-Essex and Passaic, the prime sponsor of legislation that would require New Jersey to divest all state-administered pension investments held in companies with ties to the Sudanese government, issued the following statement regarding the unanimous approval of the bill today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee:

“The actions being conducted in the name of ‘ethnic purity’ in the Sudan are an atrocity to human rights around the globe. The ongoing conflict in the Darfur region has claimed more than 200,000 lives since it began in 2003, and is nothing short of absolute religious genocide.

By DMUAdmin Fred H. Madden Jr News & Releases Steve Sweeney

23 Jun: Sweeney / Madden GPS’ Bill Clears Senate Budget And Appropriations Committee

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Fred H. Madden that would create a two-year pilot program which would use satellite-based tracking to keep track of convicted sex offenders was unanimously approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“As a parent, my first priority is to help ensure the safety of my children,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. ” As a legislator, I have a responsibility to help protect the children of New Jersey, which is exactly what this bill would do. The GPS tracking would let law enforcement officers know sex offenders’ whereabouts at all times, which would help keep them away from children.”

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