M. Teresa Ruiz

By DMUAdmin M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases

15 Dec: Ruiz Bill Allowing For-Profits To Organize As Issue-Driven Companies Clears Budget Committee

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex/Union) to create a new type of corporate structure in New Jersey that allows for-profit companies to organize in a way that promotes their social or environmental mission was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“Many companies participate in philanthropic activities, but giving a business the ability to define itself as an entity with a specific mission of improving education or protecting the environment will give it a competitive edge,” said Senator Ruiz. “This allows businesses to boost their bottom line while at the same time working to promote the public good.”

By DMUAdmin Donald Norcross M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases

07 Dec: Norcross/Ruiz Bill To Help Out-Of-Work Emts Approved By Senate Law And Public Safety Panel

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) and M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex/Union) to help emergency medical technicians get back to work sooner while at the same time saving hiring agencies training-related costs was unanimously approved yesterday by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

The bill (S-2411) would allow municipalities to hire laid-off EMTs without having to use Civil Service Lists, provided the termination occurred within the preceding 60 months. It would also allow the hiring of EMTs who have been laid off before completing a working test or probationary period and had not yet received permanent status. Under these circumstances, a non-permanent EMT would be required to complete the remainder of any probationary/field work test period.

“This legislation would not only make it possible for municipalities to give laid off EMTs priority hiring status, but also create an incentive for towns and cities to do so,” said Senator Norcross. “Hiring emergency responders who already have experience in the field will save municipal officials training costs, which will ultimately benefit taxpayers. This is a win for emergency officials and residents alike.”

By DMUAdmin Loretta Weinberg M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases

10 Nov: Senators Urge Colleges To Ban ‘Blackout In A Can’

TRENTON – Senators Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), chairs of the Senate Education and the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committees, respectively, today urged New Jersey�s college and university presidents to ban from their campuses alcoholic energy drinks, commonly known as ‘blackout in a can.’

In letters issued to all college and university presidents, the senators said an immediate statewide campus ban is necessary because of the risk involved with students consuming too much of the substance, and the potential for widespread sickness.

“We cannot emphasize enough the danger these drinks pose to our young people,” the Senators wrote. “A single alcoholic energy drink contains the equivalent of up to four beers and three cups of coffee, an extremely potent combination of depressants and stimulants that can create a deceiving sense of sobriety, leading to over-intoxication and blackouts. Extreme intoxication has become so widespread with consumption that the popular Four Loko alcoholic energy drink inspired a Web site that serves as a forum for consumers to post their blackout stories.”

By DMUAdmin M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases Shirley K. Turner

15 Sep: Ruiz/Turner Joint Statement On Education Committee Hearing

TRENTON – Senate Education Committee Chair Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) and Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) released the following joint statement regarding today’s committee hearing on reported fiscal mismanagement in the Trenton School District. The committee heard testimony from Acting Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks, State Auditor Stephen Eels, state-appointed Fiscal Monitor Mark Cowell, Trenton School District Superintendent Rodney Lofton, and other top district and state education officials:

“The chronic, fiscal mismanagement that took place in the Trenton School District is tragic for the students in the classrooms the education funding never reached, as well as taxpayers who saw their money squandered.

Senator Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex and Union, speaks on a point of personal privilege on the Senate floor.

By DMUAdmin M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases

27 Aug: Ruiz Statement On Former Commissioner Schundler

TRENTON – Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), chair of the Senate Education Committee and vice chair of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee, released the following statement on Commissioner Bret Schundler’s departure from the Department of Education:

“Firing someone provides no answers as to how we submitted an inaccurate application to the federal government for critical education funding.

By DMUAdmin Loretta Weinberg M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases

25 Aug: Governor Signs ‘Jaden’s Law’ To Promote Bone Marrow Donation Awareness

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) to promote bone marrow and blood stem cell donation awareness was signed into law today by Governor Christie.

“Jaden’s Law” was named in honor of 3-year-old Jaden Hilton, a New Jersey boy who lost his battle with Leukemia on January 29, 2007 after he was unable to find a bone marrow match. None of his family members were matches and, because of the low number of minorities in the national registry, he was unable to find a match in the donor pool.

“There’s simply no words to express the despair a parent goes through in losing a child at such a young age,” said Senator Weinberg. “However, Jaden’s parents and the bill’s many supporters have used his passing as a way of rallying support for an outreach program which will help match donors to people in need and increase participation in marrow and blood stem cell donations. Through their advocacy, many, many people will hopefully be spared the same heartbreak that Jaden’s family has had to endure.”

By DMUAdmin M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases Shirley K. Turner

23 Aug: Turner To Ruiz: Every Dollar Of Education Funding Must Make It To The Classroom

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, today sent a letter to Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, requesting a Committee hearing to investigate allegations made by recent news reports of fraudulent special education and health benefit spending by the Trenton School District.

“The fiscal state of Trenton’s schools has been an ongoing concern of mine, and it was the subject of a 2008 Senate Education Committee hearing with former Commissioner Davy and then-State Auditor Richard Fair. This is not a new issue, but it is an issue that deserves our close attention,” said Senator Turner.

Senator Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex and Passaic, discusses a bill at a meeting of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

By DMUAdmin M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases

16 Aug: Ruiz Statement On Charter School Legislation

TRENTON – Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex/Union), Chair of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statement on today’s committee hearing on legislation (S-2198) the Senator sponsored to modernize the state’s laws covering charter schools:

“The legislation we discussed today is a starting point to ensure that all New Jersey students are offered equal opportunities for academic success and that we are equipped to accommodate the evolving role of charter schools that is taking shape in our state, as it is across the country.

By DMUAdmin Joseph Vitale Loretta Weinberg M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases

01 Jul: Weinberg, Stender, Legislators & Advocates Urge Action On Women’s Healthcare Funding

TRENTON – Sen. Loretta Weinberg, Assemblywoman Linda Stender, representatives of women’s health organizations and legislators who support access to women’s health programs called on Gov. Chris Christie Thursday to act on legislation to restore $7.5 million in cuts for women’s health programs in the recently enacted FY 2011 state budget.

“Today, we’re calling on Gov. Christie to do the right thing and restore funding for women’s health programs,” said Weinberg (D-Bergen), chair of the Senate Health Committee. “The bill which passed both legislative houses is budget neutral, and preserves our commitment to provide access to basic health care for women who have nowhere else to turn. We hope that the governor can put women’s health and safety ahead of political ideology, but we stand ready to work to overturn his veto, just in case.”

By DMUAdmin Jeff Van Drew M. Teresa Ruiz News & Releases Nia H. Gill

28 Jun: Van Drew/Gill/Ruiz Measure Creating Task Force To Study NJN Proposal Clears Senate

TRENTON – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senators Jeff Van Drew, Nia H. Gill, and Teresa Ruiz to create a task force to study Governor Christie’s proposal to slash funding for New Jersey Network and transition it from a government-run entity, paving the way for control by a not-for-profit organization.

The measure (SCR-113) would ensure that residents’ investment in the network is protected, and that the Jersey-centric programming focus is maintained in the event of a transition.

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M. Teresa Ruiz