TRENTON ? The Senate today approved a bill, S-1950, sponsored by Senators Sandra Bolden Cunningham and Shirley K. Turner, to create two new Superior Court judgeships to handle drug cases as part of a State program to rehabilitate non-violent drug offenders and make them employable citizens. The vote was 35-0.
?This legislation will enhance the capability of the State drug court program to expedite cases involving drug offenders so they can gain access to the resources of education and counseling which will help them become productive members of society,? said Senator Cunningham, D-Hudson.
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner made the following statement today following the Governor’s signature of S-2044, which implements the early retirement incentive program for FY09.
“I had a few simple goals this year when it came to the State Budget – to end our reliance on non-recurring revenues, to minimize cuts to programs that serve our most vulnerable residents, and to avoid new taxes. In order to achieve these goals, it was critical that we reduced the size of State government.
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg and Bob Gordon, which would require the Department of Health and Senior Services to establish an autism awareness training course and curriculum for first responders like emergency medical technicians (EMTs), firefighters and police officers, has received unanimous final legislative approval from the full Senate.
“In an emergency situation, the knowledge that a person suffers from autism or a related disorder can mean the difference between life and death,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “Because characteristics of autism are not always immediately recognizable, we must make sure that those living with the disease are able to receive the medical care they need, as quickly as possible.”
TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and author of a plan to make health care affordable for all New Jersey residents, issued the following statement today after the Senate unanimously approved the first phase of his plan:
“Tonight in New Jersey, a quarter million kids will go to sleep without the protection offered by even basic health insurance. These are kids who have to wait until they’re very seriously ill or hurt before they can go to the hospital to have access to care. As a moral society, we cannot turn our backs on the plight of these kids, who are falling through the gaps in New Jersey’s health care safety net.
TRENTON – The Senate today approved legislation, S1463, sponsored by Senator Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, to allow casinos, racetracks and simulcasting operations to stay open for up to seven days in the event of a State government shutdown similar to the crisis caused by the July 2006 budget impasse. The vote was 39-0.
“Hopefully, we will never have to implement this proposal, but it’s really a fundamental economic necessity for the people of Atlantic City,” said Senator Whelan. “We have to be prepared, based on what we faced two years ago, to have a system in place to keep the casinos open.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice and Shirley K. Turner to increase the amount of bonds authorized under the “Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act” by $3.9 billion received final legislative approval today when it was approved in the Assembly by a vote of 42 to 36 to 2 and in the Senate by a vote of 21 to 18.
“We made a promise to provide a proper education to all students in the State of New Jersey,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. ”Unfortunately due to mismanagement of previous school construction funds, the poorest students have been forced to do without the new schools they desperately need. These school construction projects are long overdue, and as a State we can’t afford to put off these projects any longer.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Ronald L. Rice and Jim Whelan to require all hospital board trustees to complete a training program received final Legislative approval today.
“Hospital trustee members should be properly trained to fulfill their duties,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “Trustees must ensure that hospitals are operating efficiently and are financially responsible. Sufficient education and training are vital to ensuring that hospitals are staffed with the most qualified individuals in order to prevent mismanagement of resources.”
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today released the following statement on the Senate’s approval of the FY 2009 Appropriations Act:
“This budget clearly reflects the reality of our fiscal situation. Much like millions of Americans across the country, we have to do more with less. This budget required a lot of painful decisions, decisions nobody really wants to make but that had to be done.
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would prohibit the sale of certain flavored cigarettes in the State of New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 34-4, receiving final legislative approval.
“Flavored cigarettes are a marketing gimmick from the same companies that brought you Joe Camel and other cartoon mascots for tobacco products,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “They blatantly appeal to children and young adults, and are intended to encourage younger generations to pick up the smoking habit. Given the State’s interest in helping people kick the habit, flavored cigarettes isn’t something we should give silent approval to in New Jersey.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would direct the Division of Treasury to look at a more secure cigarette tax stamp to prevent counterfeiting was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 38-0, receiving final legislative approval.
“As we’ve seen in this year’s budget deliberations, every penny of existing tax revenue is important to meeting the obligations of the State of New Jersey,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “However, every year, we lose millions of dollars in uncollected taxes due to counterfeit tobacco tax stamps. We need to do a better job in securing cigarette tax stamps, and ensuring that it’s harder for forgeries to get into the retail stream.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would establish the Health Care Stabilization Fund to provide grants to general hospitals and other health care facilities to ensure access to health care services in a community served by a hospital facing closure was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 23-16, receiving final legislative approval.
“New Jersey’s hospital system is in crisis, and with every announcement of closure, hundreds if not thousands of uninsured State residents in the surrounding area are left to scramble as they lose their primary point of health care,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “New Jersey’s hospitals, through the charity care program, are on the frontlines in terms of providing access to quality care for those without health insurance. We need a mechanism in place to ensure the continuation of access when hospitals are on the verge of financial collapse.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would authorize the Greenwood Lake Commission to charge certain fees to permanently fund environmental cleanup of the lake was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 21-17.
“As New Jersey seeks financial reckoning in terms of how we fund our biggest priorities, we’re going to look for programs to become more self-sufficient,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, and the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “For many years, we’ve funded the operations of the Greenwood Lake Commission from State coffers, to ensure that the lake remains a top-tier recreation destination in the tri-State area. But as we continue to try to do more with less, we need to give the Commission a dedicated revenue source to continue its mission of preserving the natural beauty of Greenwood Lake.”
TRENTON – In an effort to combat the foreclosure crisis affecting the nation, a bill sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill which would provide protections for homeowners facing substantial mortgage interest rate increases or foreclosure was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 39-0, receiving final legislative approval.
“Today in New Jersey, homeowners are losing their homes due to the national mortgage crisis created by the practices of some subprime, predatory lenders,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic, and Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. “The State must provide some level of protection for our citizens who may be on the brink of, or already face, financial insolvency, trying to cope with soaring mortgage payments. Through this bill, we’re ensuring that our State property owners are given the notice and flexibility they need to survive crushing mortgage increases.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Gordon which would remove regulatory stumbling blocks to allow for the construction of an aquarium in the Xanadu complex at the Meadowlands was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 28-7, receiving final legislative approval.
“The Xanadu project stands to be a major economic and entertainment engine in northern New Jersey,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen. “In addition to being a major entertainment destination at the Meadowlands, I believe that the proposal to include an aquarium at the site brings a valuable educational element. We need to remove all regulatory obstacles for this project, to create a top-tier facility to draw in visitors from around the New York metropolitan region.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Gordon which would provide for a one-time diversion of funds from the State’s “Shore Protection Fund” to pay for park operations in New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 22-17, receiving final legislative approval.
“Earlier this year, when Governor Corzine proposed slashing park funding as part of a tough, no-frills State budget, the people of New Jersey rightfully demanded restorations,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen, and a member of the Senate Environment Committee. “Particularly in a year when gasoline prices are through the roof and families are seeking recreational opportunities closer to home, deep cuts in park services and operations would have been devastating. Through this measure, we’re giving parks a one-year delay in any cuts while we seek new funding sources in the next fiscal year.”