MEDIA ADVISORY – Lesniak To Testify On Violence Commission Legislation In Senate Law And Public Safety Committee Monday

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Joseph Coniglio which would ensure that newly discharged veterans’ receive preference when applying for civil service jobs received unanimous final legislative approval today from the full Senate.

“It amazes me, that these men and women can risk their lives overseas, fighting in the name of our country, and when they get home so much time is wasted by waiting to grant them veterans’ preference status,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “This legislation would help ensure that we grant employment preference to eligible veterans so that they may compete for job opportunities prior to being discharged from the military.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Raymond Lesniak and Senator M. Teresa Ruiz to help parents limit their children’s exposure to violence in the media was approved today by the full Senate as part of the Senate Democrats’ comprehensive gun safety plan. The proposal would require the Department of Education to develop an informative pamphlet for schools to distribute to the parents of all their students.

“Studies have shown that a child on average views hundreds of thousands of acts of violence on television alone before the age of 18. With the additional exposure to video games, social media and the Internet, children can be flooded with these images which can lead to their becoming desensitized to violence,” said Senator Lesniak. “In coordination with our schools, we can work to combat this problem by helping parents counter the pervasive depictions of violence in the media. This will better protect the psychological and emotional wellbeing of our children.”

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, along with Salaam Ismial, Director, National United Youth Council, and a representative from Union County’s Mental Health Court, will be on hand tomorrow, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 at 11:00 AM in STATEHOUSE ROOM 103 across from the Senate Chambers to unveil the Senator’s legislation to reduce violence in New Jersey communities.

“As President Obama so eloquently stated at the Sandy Hook Prayer Vigil, ‘No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. But that can’t be an excuse for inaction,’” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “We cannot simply accept the status quo any longer when children are being gunned down in classrooms in Connecticut or on the streets in urban New Jersey. It’s time that we get serious about reducing violence and protecting the innocent from becoming victims.”

Committee Approves Legislation to Ban Contributions to Federal Committees by Pension Fund Managers TRENTON — Legislation authored by Senator Shirley…

TRENTON — Legislation authored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Peter J. Barnes that would help protect public employee…

TRENTON – Senator Raymond Lesniak issued the following statement on Monday on his legislation, S-2430, approved by the Senate with a vote of 22-10, that would declare violence a “public health crisis” and create a Study Commission on Violence:

TRENTON – A landmark bill sponsored by Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Shirley K. Turner which would declare violence as a “public health crisis,” would empanel a commission to look at ways to mitigate violence, and would recommend the federal adoption of stricter gun control standards is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on January 28.

“We can no longer turn a blind eye to the violence that’s taking place daily on our streets and in our communities,” said Senator Lesniak, D-Union. “This is about taking a multi-pronged approach to reducing violence in New Jersey, whether it’s providing greater access to mental health treatment, leveraging federal funds from the CDC, or advocating on behalf of stricter gun controls along the lines of what President Obama announced yesterday. It’s past time that we incorporate a proactive, comprehensive strategy to keeping New Jersey residents safe.”

“Gun violence and other forms of violence perpetrated against New Jersey residents has reached epidemic proportions, and failure to respond is in essence shirking our responsibility to serve the public,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and Hunterdon. “This bill recognizes that there is no single cure-all to reduce violence, but rather, a whole host of things that we can do as a State to better protect our residents. If we can protect one New Jerseyan – if we can save one life – then this effort is worth making.”

TRENTON – A bill co-sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which will close a veterans’ loophole which prohibits active-duty servicemen and women from receiving veteran’s preference under civil service regulations was signed into law last week by Governor Corzine.

“Our nation’s military personnel give so much of themselves to protect this country, and when they choose to continue their public service as civil servants, we should honor that decision, and their sacrifices,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “However, the previous veteran’s preference provision for civil service jobs does not account for our veterans’ decisions to quickly transition from active-duty to civilian life. Under this new law, veterans would be granted a quicker avenue to public service jobs, keeping with the spirit of the original veteran’s preference program.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Joseph Coniglio which will ensure that newly discharged veterans’ receive preference when applying for civil service jobs was has been signed into law by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

“I am amazed that these men and women can put their lives on the line, fighting in the name of our country, and when they get home they have to wait to receive veterans’ preference for employment,” said Senator Madden, D-Gloucester and Camden. “This law will help ensure that the State grants employment preference to eligible veterans so that they may compete for job opportunities prior to being discharged from the military.”