Would Bring Interstate Authorities Under State Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester)…
Donald Norcross
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Senator Bob Gordon (D-Bergen) that would better protect employees of…
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Jim Beach, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Jeff Van Drew and Senator Donald Norcross…
(TRENTON) – Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) released the following statement upon the Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 being signed into…
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) to boost New Jersey’s wine industry was approved today by the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
The bill (S-2845) would create the New Jersey Wine Board to foster the development of the New Jersey wine industry, promote the orderly growth of the industry through advertising and other means, expand viticulture and enological research, increase education about the industry, and promote the production of grapes and wine in the State. The measure would also dedicate additional funding to this effort, allowing the full amount of the existing state revenue generated on wines and ciders sold by New Jersey wineries to go toward the promotion of wines, research and related endeavors.
“While New Jersey ranks among the top 10 states in wine production in the country, there is no doubt that our wines are among the finest and can compete with those produced around the world. Supporting our growers and vintners is key to ensuring the industry continues to grow and thrive,” said Senator Norcross. “Focusing our efforts on promotion, education and research with additional funding will help to boost the industry, making New Jersey’s wineries stronger and more prosperous.”
TRENTON – A Senate Committee today advanced a bill to modernize New Jersey’s liquor laws by creating a craft distillery license, which would allow small-scale producers who currently are priced out of the industry by the state’s high liquor license fees to do business in the state. Sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross, Shirley K. Turner and Jim Whelan, the bill seeks to expand micro-distilleries in New Jersey as tourist destinations as well as job-creators.
“New Jersey’s current laws make it incredibly difficult for small-scale distillers to do business in the state. With several distillers prepared to open facilities, it’s well past time that we took steps to update our antiquated laws,” said Senator Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester). “This will help to facilitate growth of the craft-distillery industry while supporting our agricultural community and creating new jobs.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senate Law and Public Safety Chairman Donald Norcross and Senator Nicholas Sacco to create the crime of cyber-harassment, which would close a loophole in state law that prevents the criminal prosecution of online harassment of minors by their peers and by adults, was approved today by the committee.
“We have seen cases of cyber-harassment that have ended in devastating tragedies. We need to make sure that attacks against children on the Internet are treated with the seriousness that the issue demands,” said Senator Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester). “The penalties created under this measure will send a message to kids that online harassment is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. At the same time, it will ensure that adults who engage in online bullying of children will face serious prison time for their actions.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg to provide financial assistance to state residents who provide informal, uncompensated care and support to elderly relatives was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“Family caregivers are so important to the health and wellbeing of our aging residents, as they provide emotional, financial and in some cases medical support to those in their care. But they are also vital to the strength of the state’s health care and long-term care systems, helping to reduce the financial burden on these critical networks,” said Senator Norcross, D-Camden and Gloucester. “Providing tax relief to those who have taken on this incredible responsibility is a way to recognize the contribution they make to the state and to relieve some of the cost they bear in providing in-home care.”
“While many people prefer to care for a loved one who is aging at home, and do so willingly, there is undoubtedly an emotional and financial toll on the caregiver that often goes unnoticed,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “Providing a small measure of relief to those who sacrifice so much to take care of an aging family member is the right thing to do. Moreover, it will help caregivers with the cost of medication, health equipment or supplies that are necessary to keep their loved one healthy and comfortable, and in the community longer.”
TRENTON – The Senate on Thursday approved major portions of a comprehensive package of gun safety bills that will overhaul the state’s firearms permitting process by creating a modern, electronic system for universal background checks that will include mental health records and cover private transactions and ammunition sales, among other actions to prevent gun violence.
“This is a far-reaching plan to reduce gun violence that will serve as a national model for gun safety,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney, the plan’s lead sponsor. “We are accomplishing here in New Jersey what couldn’t get done in Washington. This plan will create a modern, electronic system of background checks for all gun sales that will help keep weapons out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them by including instant access to criminal and mental health records and by cracking down on illegal gun sales. These are important improvements to the state’s already tough laws that will help make our streets and communities safer and more secure.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross to protect consumers from being defrauded by unscrupulous precious metal buyers by increasing penalties for violations of certain laws that apply to these businesses received final approval today by the General Assembly.
“Residents have a right to expect that when they engage in business at a cash-for-gold operation in the state, they are provided accurate information about the value of their property,” said Senator Norcross (D-Gloucester/Camden). “This measure will better ensure that consumers are treated fairly and make certain that any precious metal buyer that fails to follow the law in an attempt to defraud consumers out of money due to them will be met with severe financial penalties.”