Loretta Weinberg

TRENTON ? A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg known as “Billy’s Law,” which would create an oversight council on the out-of-state placement of children was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The bill is named for Billy Albanese of Brooklyn, NY. Billy suffered a traumatic brain injury and attended Bancroft Neurohealth in Haddonfield from 1992 to 1997. Billy was reportedly left unsupervised in his wheelchair on numerous occasions, resulting in three falls which required a total of 40 stitches to his face and head. Billy?s father, Vito Albanese, helped found the Family Alliance to Stop Abuse and Neglect, Senator Weinberg said.

“As parents and grandparents, our main priority must be to protect the health and safety of our children. This responsibility increases when they are out of our care, and so must our diligence in protecting our kids,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “This legislation would work to help protect hundreds of New Jersey?s children. We must work to ensure that our children who are sent out-of-state for treatment are kept safe, and treated with the same amount of care that they would receive here in New Jersey.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg and Joseph Coniglio which would require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to establish an autism awareness training course and curriculum for first responders like Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) was unanimously approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens committee.

“Characteristics of autism and other related diseases are not always immediately recognizable, and this training will help give first responders like EMTs signs to look for when dealing with autistic patients,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, who is a member of the Senate Health panel. “We are all well aware of New Jersey’s unusually high autism rates, and this training is imperative to help educate our first responders about autism, and many of the characteristics of people living with the disease.”

“This legislation is about ensuring that New Jersey’s EMTs, firefighters and police officers have the training necessary to deal with the special needs of the autistic population,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “The training courses would help to break down some of the stigma surrounding autism and other related disorders, and help to make sure that those living with the disease receive the medical care they need in an emergency situation.”

TRENTON – Senator Loretta Weinberg announced today that she has pre-filed for the next legislative session a measure that will ban the posting of political campaign signs on public property.

“Every October, our roads become inevitably cluttered with campaign signs,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “These signs are a distraction to drivers and spoil our public spaces. We need to make it clear to all campaigns that this practice must stop.”

WEST ORANGE – A new law sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg which appropriates $40 million in voter-approved bond funding from the Garden State Preservation Trust” (GSPT) to the State Department of Environmental Protection for land conservation, was publicly signed today by Governor Jon Corzine at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.

“The beauty of this funding is that it will help preserve open space throughout the state,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “As New Jersey’s population continues to grow, so will the amount of space necessary to house its residents. This new law will help ensure that future generations will enjoy New Jersey’s parks, beaches and other open spaces.”