Nicholas P. Scutari

TRENTON – The Senate Commerce Committee today approved legislation sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Nicholas Scutari that would better protect consumers under the State’s “Lemon Law” for new car purchases by expanding coverage from 18,000 miles to 24,000 miles.

“New Jersey’s Lemon Law is over 17 years old. Given that our driving habits have changed in that time, the law needs to be updated,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Drivers commute much farther today and 18,000 miles no longer provides the coverage the average car buyer deserves.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, to require charitable organizations that place clothing bins in public places to post disclosure information on each bin as a way to discourage clothes-collecting profiteers, was approved by the full Senate today.

“With charitable donations increasing, for-profit businesses began to realize the financial potential of donation bins,” Said Senator Scutari, D-Middlesex, Somerset and Union. “Profit organizations, claiming to be owned by charities, have started collecting for the needy. These groups then sell the clothing, donate a small portion to charity, and keep the rest. The public has the right to know if their charitable contributions will actually be going to companies looking to make a buck. Posting information on donation bins gives our citizens the opportunity to select what organizations they would like to help.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari to make changes to drivers’ personal injury protection (PIP) claims through their auto insurance policies by ensuring providers are fairly compensated for their services and including ambulatory surgical facilities to the list of health care providers was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today.

“There is no doubt that it is in everybody’s best interest to have a PIP fee schedule that is comprehensive, definitive and binding,” said Senator Scutari, D-Middlesex, Somerset and Union. “It is also essential that it be fair to all parties. The present reimbursement system does justly compensates health care providers for vital services they provide, but this bill would create efficiencies for the insurance and medical care industries.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, to require organ donation information to be put in public colleges and universities as a way to increase the number of donors in the State, was approved by the Senate Education Committee today.

“Dissemination of accurate information as well as the need for organ donation can lead to a greater number of donors,” said Senator Scutari, D-Middlesex, Somerset, and Union. “Every day, an average of 17 people who are waiting for organs in the United States die because no organs can be found for them. This means 6,000 people a year die waiting for organ transplants.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari to amend current divorce laws and protect the privacy of divorcing couples became law today.

“The end of a marriage is always a sad and difficult occasion, and our legal system should not be compounding that burden,” said Senator Scutari, D-Middlesex, Somerset, and Union. “By establishing ‘irreconcilable differences’ as grounds for divorce, we will allow couples to move forward with their lives in a civil and amicable fashion, without undue emotional stress and anguish.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari to require insurance companies to provide full uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to employees under their employers’ commercial policies was approved by the full Senate today.

“Right now, you have a situation where two employees, riding in the same vehicle, covered by the same commercial policy, can be injured identically in the same accident and receive different levels of coverage,” explained Senator Scutari D-Middlesex, Somerset, and Union). “The current system is arbitrary and misleading, leaving New Jersey’s employers and employees exposed when they thought they were completely covered. My bill will guarantee that companies get the coverage they are paying for, and hard-working New Jerseyans get the protection they deserve.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari to amend current divorce laws and protect the privacy of divorcing couples was approved by the full Senate today by a vote of 30 to 5.

“The end of a marriage is always a sad and difficult occasion, and our legal system should not be compounding that burden,” said Senator Scutari, D-Middlesex, Somerset, and Union. “By establishing ‘irreconcilable differences’ as grounds for divorce, we will allow couples to move forward with their lives in a civil and amicable fashion, without undue emotional stress and anguish.”