TRENTON – The Senate unanimously approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill that would increase transparency with regard to how libraries are funded.
The measure (S-2068) would create a dedicated line item on residents’ property tax bills showing the amount they pay to support their local library, just as tax bills include a line item displaying the amount homeowners pay to fund county libraries.
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.
TRENTON – Calling library services critical to residents during tough economic times, Senator Nia H. Gill (D-Essex) hailed the restoration of $4.3 million to the state’s libraries, which was solidified by today’s passage of the FY2011 state budget:
“The state budget passage solidifies the restoration of $4.3 million in funding for critical services to New Jersey’s libraries.
TRENTON – Senator Nia H. Gill, D-Essex, released the following statement on today’s report by The Associated Press on the success of the state’s clean syringe access programs, which were established in five pilot cities. Senator Gill was the prime sponsor of the “Bloodborne Disease Harm Reduction Act,” which created the New Jersey Syringe Access Program:
“This report confirms what we knew, that our long and hard-fought journey would be a success.
TRENTON – The Senate will begin the 2010 legislative session by seeking swift action on measures that would complete the sweeping overhaul of the public employee pension and benefits system first proposed nearly three years ago, Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney announced today.
Senate President Sweeney made the announcement following a meeting of the Senate Democratic caucus. He was joined by Majority Leader Barbara Buono, Senate President Pro Temp Nia H. Gill, and Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo.
“Unless we take action now, New Jersey’s pension system will implode, leaving thousands of rank and file workers penniless in retirement,” said Senate President Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “As a union leader and someone who helps provide health and retirement plans to workers in the private sector, I know that a promise of a secure retirement must be a promise kept. But the state will have no option but to renege on that promise for its public employees unless we reform the system. It’s time to finish the job we began nearly four years ago.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman, Senator Nia H. Gill, which requires insurers regulated by the State of New Jersey to make installment payments for maternity services in the Garden State was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.
“The previous insurance reimbursement rules for maternity services performed in New Jersey were absurd, and forced medical professionals to administer care without any guarantee of ever being paid for their work,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic. “Rather, health care professionals were only paid for their hard work after a baby was delivered. By going to a system of installment payments for maternity services, we are creating a far fairer system in the Garden State, and will hopefully make it easier for talented maternity care specialists to practice their medicine in New Jersey.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman, Senator Nia H. Gill, which would require insurers regulated by the State of New Jersey to make installment payments for maternity services in the Garden State was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 39-0.
“The current insurance reimbursement rules for maternity services in New Jersey allow medical professionals to administer services without ever being paid for those services,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic. “Rather, under the current rules, health care professional who perform maternity services are only paid by the patient’s health insurance after the baby is delivered. That seems absolutely unfair to the professionals who do everything in their power to ensure a healthy delivery, and through this legislation, we would make sure that insurers reimburse ob-gyns and midwives throughout the course of a patient’s pregnancy.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman, Senator Nia H. Gill, which would require insurers regulated by the State of New Jersey to make installment payments for maternity services in the Garden State was unanimously approved by the Commerce Committee today.
“Under the current payment rules, ob-gyns are the only medical professionals I know of in New Jersey, who are not paid for the services they provide,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic. “Rather, these health care professionals are only paid by the patient’s health insurance after the baby is delivered. This bill would change that system, and would make sure that licensed ob-gyns and midwives could receive payment for services provided throughout a patient’s pregnancy.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale, Jim Whelan, Shirley K. Turner and Nia H. Gill which would create a system of licensure and accountability for genetic counselors in the State of New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 38-0.
“The future of medicine – particularly in the area of designer drugs, personalized medicine and custom-made health plans – is going to depend on genetic counseling,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “With this bill, we would put into place a regulatory structure to provide needed oversight and accountability for these health care professionals who can do so much to expand the effectiveness and affordability of health care moving forward. This bill is about making sure New Jersey has the foresight needed to meet the health care challenges of tomorrow, and ensure accountability and standards in the burgeoning genetic counseling field.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Nia H. Gill and Loretta Weinberg which would require credit card companies to obtain parental consent before issuing a credit card to someone under the age of 21 was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today by a vote of 4-0.
“Especially during the current economic crisis, a line of credit can be incredibly tempting – and extraordinarily dangerous – for young people who don’t understand the consequences of massive credit card debt,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic, and Chairwoman of the Commerce Committee. “It’s become more and more common in our society for young people to build up thousands and thousands of dollars in unpaid credit card debt before they reach their mid-twenties. Hopefully, by informing parents of their kids’ credit decisions, we can encourage them to offer advice and guidance, so that their children can avoid costly mistakes which will limit them down the road.”