Fred H. Madden Jr

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and John A. Girgenti that would create the “Sex Crime Victim Treatment Fund,” to help provide funding for victim counseling was approved today by the Assembly.

“Victims of sexual assault can have traumatic psychological damage that lingers for years,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “By forcing offenders to fund victim treatment, the State would make them help to undo some of the damage caused by their violent attacks, while helping victims and their families work through their pain.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden that would establish the “Social Services Student Loan Redemption Program Act,” to help relieve student loan burdens of up to $20,000 over four years for full-time direct health care professionals was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“The State loses a lot of young college graduates because salaries offered by the State cannot compete with the higher wages offered in the private sector,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “We are hoping to encourage these graduates to fill the vacant positions in the State’s social services field by offering to cover the cost of their student loans, which can pose a heavy burden on recent graduates.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden that would permit New Jersey to uphold domestic violence restraining orders granted in other states was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Under current law, the State does not have the power to bring contempt charges against persons who violate out-of-state restraining orders. In other words, if a restraining order is granted in Philadelphia or New York, the protections cannot be honored in New Jersey,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. ” Survivors who come to New Jersey for a fresh start should be able to feel secure in knowing that our courts will honor the orders that they have secured in other states.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden that would require clinical laboratories to monitor creatinine levels in patients’ blood and help detect kidney disease in its early stages was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

“Preventative measures and early detection have been shown to greatly increase the chances of survival for kidney disease sufferers,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “Nationally, 50,000 people are awaiting kidney transplants. By requiring clinical labs to monitor creatinine levels, physicians will be able to more accurately diagnose the symptoms of kidney failure and help reduce the dependency on dialysis and kidney transplant surgery.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and John A. Girgenti that would establish the “Sex Crime Victim Treatment Fund” to collect and distribute funding for victim counseling received final legislative approval today in the Assembly.

“Traumatic events like sexual assault can cause years of pain and anxiety for victims and their families,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “By requiring sex offenders to fund counseling for their victims, the State is forcing these predators to take responsibility for their actions. Though a monetary value cannot be placed on the damage caused as a result of sexual assault, this measure is a step in the right direction toward helping survivors and their families begin the healing process. “

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and John A. Girgenti that would create the “Sex Crime Victim Treatment Fund,” to help provide funding for victim counseling was approved today by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“The traumatic effects of sexual assault can linger for years, affecting nearly every area of victims’ lives,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “This measure provides funding to counsel survivors of sexual assault and their families, so that they can work through their pain and begin leading healthier lives.”

TRENTON – Senator Fred Madden today introduced legislation to implement a loan forgiveness program worth up to $20,000 to college graduates who take direct-care social services jobs in New Jersey.

“We need to provide incentives to attract full-time professionals to take on the difficult jobs of helping the poor, working in mental health facilities and caring for children with disabilities,” said Senator Madden, D-Glouceser and Camden. “This program is designed to attract the very best to begin careers in social services where current shortages in professional help are projected to continue.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Ellen Karcher that would create “The Domestic Violence and Workforce Development Initiative Act,” and require the State’s workforce development counselors to be trained to address the needs of domestic violence victims was approved today by the Senate Labor Committee.

“The issue of domestic violence prevention is so important because of the huge impact it has on the families it affects,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “Preparing workforce development and unemployment counselors to deal with the needs of domestic violence victims will provide them with the encouragement to seek refuge while working for self-sufficiency.”