Shirley K. Turner

TRENTON – Miniaturized motorcycles commonly known as “pocket bikes” or “mini-motos” would be banned from New Jersey’s streets and sidewalks under legislation sponsored by Senators Joseph Congilio and Shirley K. Turner and passed by the State Senate today.

“As pocket bikes have grown in popularity, we have seen an increased number of high-profile accidents involving children riding these unsafe devices on public roads,” said Senator Congilio, D-Bergen. “I look at these bikes and as a grandparent, I worry about children riding on one of these dangerous vehicles and getting hurt. These are nothing like the Barbie or G.I. Joe Powerwheels our kids used to ask for – they are fully-functional motorcycles that are very hard to see and can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour.”

TRENTON – Senators Shirley K. Turner and Joseph Coniglio welcomed final legislative approval by the Assembly of their bill that would ban the use of overseas labor in contracts entered into by the State or an authority under its control.

“When New Jersey signs a contract with a company for the performance of services, that service should be done by American citizens,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “Off-shoring is a serious concern for the future of New Jersey’s workforce, and we need to make sure that the money of New Jersey’s taxpayers doesn’t go toward companies that employ this practice. The State itself needs to lead by example and make sure that every service contract we sign uses American labor.”

TRENTON – Senators Shirley K. Turner and Joseph Coniglio welcomed approval by the Assembly Labor Committee today of their bill that would ban the use of overseas labor in State contracts.

“Off-shoring is a serious concern for the future of New Jersey’s workforce,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “A recent report from New Jersey Policy Perspective showed that 1 in 8 New Jersey jobs could potentially be moved overseas, threatening the livelihoods of almost half a million New Jersey families. The State itself needs to lead by example and make sure that every service contract we sign is done using American labor.”

TRENTON – The Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner today that would ensure that patients undergoing mental health treatment and their families would see the same level of charity care relief as patients receiving non-mental health treatments.

“When individuals seek medical treatment for an illness, our laws should not discriminate between mental and non-mental illness,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “The State’s charity care formulas currently do not cover both the mentally ill and non-mentally ill equally. We must break down these artificial barriers and making sure that mental illness is seen as what it truly is – a medical condition that often has a known treatment.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would allow all municipalities to require landlords of “animal houses” to post bonds passed the full Senate today.

“When our local police officers must repeatedly break up college parties at these ‘animal houses’, they are distracted from their primary job of protecting the community,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “It’s time for the landlords of these buildings to take responsibility for the irresponsible actions of those they rent to. Requiring bonds has been a proven method in shore communities for reducing disruptions coming from rentals and now it will be an option in all communities.”