TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner is moving ahead to ban smoking on casino floors because she says it’s only fair to protect the health of all workers and to treat all businesses the same way.
“If the mom and pop stores and the small restaurants have to ban smoking, the ritzy casinos should too,” said the Mercer County Democrat.
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Ronald L. Rice, to expand the responsibilities of the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, received final legislative approval today in the Senate.
“The Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect has helped New Jersey keep its children safe, but there still are cases of child abuse and neglect, and we need the task force to take on a larger role in protecting child safety,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “Enlisting the task force to educate the public about child abuse and by mobilizing the community to be proactive about child abuse, we are further strengthening our commitment to stop child abuse.”
TRENTON – The Senate gave unanimous approval to legislation today sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would prohibit telemarketers from using technology to disguise their identity.
“New Jersey has been a national leader in empowering residents with ‘Do Not Call’ legislation,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “The telemarketing industry has responded to the law by developing caller ID spoofing equipment that circumvents provisions that make it illegal to deceive residents by blocking caller ID boxes. This practice violates the spirit of the law and now it will violate the letter of the law.”
TRENTON – Senate President Pro Tempore Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, made the following statement today regarding the approval of S-709, her bill that would place a moratorium on the use of the death penalty while a Study Commission investigates its use by the State, by the Assembly Judiciary Committee:
“I am glad the Assembly has once again decided to consider this critical piece of legislation that received bipartisan support in both houses two years ago. It was a disappointment to many people of great conscience when Governor McGreevey then vetoed this bill in the waning hours of the last session of the Legislature, denying us the ability to overturn the veto.
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner which would regulate bounty hunters, and prohibit those with criminal records from acting as bounty hunters, following questions of the safety and effectiveness of the profession, was released without recommendation by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee today.
“Unless we put certain common-sense restrictions on bounty hunters, we’re going to end up with a tragedy on our hands,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “Bounty hunters are not policemen, and should not have the freedom to act as such.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner which would give students the option to refuse to dissect an animal as part of their school course work was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 36-0, receiving final legislative approval.
“When a student has a legitimate moral objection to the dissection of an animal, we should foster such principles and ideals, not force that student into conformity for a good grade,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “With computer imaging technology, models, books, videos and more, there are many alternatives that can impart the same knowledge without having to resort to dissection. We’re lucky to have such principled individuals in our schools, and we should not crush idealism in the name of the status quo.”
TRENTON – The Senate Commerce Committee passed legislation today sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would prohibit telemarketers from using technology to disguise their identity.
“When we passed the original “Do Not Call’ legislation, we made it illegal for telemarketers to deceive residents by blocking their number from caller ID boxes,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “Since that time, the telemarketing industry has developed caller ID spoofing equipment that allows them to circumvent the law. This practice violates the spirit of the law and now it will violate the letter of the law.”
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, co-sponsor of the bill to authorize local governments to enact strong ordinances banning pay-to-play practices in their communities, said it will clean up the corrupting influence of money in political campaigns throughout New Jersey.
The bill, S-1987, passed in the Senate by a 34-0 vote and now goes to the Governor.
TRENTON – The Senate approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would enact new nutritional standards for food sold in public schools, limiting the availability of high-calorie beverages and foods high in sugar or fat to students during school hours.
“Obesity is a problem facing far too many school-aged children today,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “The eating habits they learn while young will stay with them throughout their lives, so we must begin to expose them to healthy choices now, while they are still in school.”
TRENTON – The Senate today gave final approval to a bill that would fine sports agents or recruiters up to $10,000 if they bestow gifts on high school athletes to lure them into professional contracts or agreements for college scholarships.
“High school student-athletes should be off-limits to the pervasive influence of big-money sports contracts and other enticements which could ruin their amateur status,”said Senator Shirley K. Turner, Senate sponsor of the bill, S-1634/A-899.