TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham which would establish the “Ellis Island Advisory Commission,” was unanimously approved today by the Senate State Government Committee.
“Ellis Island is a reminder of the long journey that millions of immigrants made to the United States in search of a better life,” said Senator Cunningham, D-Hudson. “For those immigrants, New Jersey served as their first taste of America and it’s only fitting that this Commission be established to revive such an integral part of our local and national history.”
TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the author of a health care reform plan to make health coverage affordable for all New Jersey residents issued the following statement regarding the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee’s unanimous approval of the first phase of his plan, which would expand eligibility and outreach for NJ FamilyCare and enact market-level reforms, with an eye towards affordability for policy holders, on the individual and small group health insurance markets:
“Today’s Budget Committee approval was a strong statement on the feasibility of transformational health care reform in the State of New Jersey. At a time when the Budget Committee is grappling with a substantial fiscal shortfall in State finances, the fact that Committee members would lend their support to this measure speaks volumes on the priorities we hold dear in the Garden State.
TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, the sponsor of legislation to pave the way for sports betting as a revenue source for New Jersey, issued the following testimony in support of his proposal, which was discussed in the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee today:
“In 1992 Congress passed a law that made residents in New Jersey and 45 other states second class citizens. And when it allowed sports betting in Nevada and three other states, while giving New Jersey a one year window to adopt sports betting or forever be banned from permitting it, Congress did more than make us second class citizens. It violated the Constitution of the United States of America.
Adler-Smith Bill To Exempt Renewable Energy Systems From Property Taxes Approved In Budget Committee
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Bob Smith which would exempt renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, from local property taxes was unanimously approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.
“Renewable energy is our best chance to fight global warming and to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “We need to do everything we can to make sure that renewable energy systems are affordable for families and businesses and promote green technology.”
TRENTON – A bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Bob Smith and Philip E. Haines which would ask voters to approve $300 million in stop-gap open space funding for the next two years was introduced and referred to the Senate Environment Committee today.
“As we continue discussions on a permanent funding mechanism for open space acquisition in New Jersey, we need to be constantly aware that the clock’s running out on the current pot of open space funding,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, and the Chairman of the Environment Committee. “If we allow funding to lapse, Green Acres, farmland and historic preservation are going to come to a screeching halt, and we’ll be forced to start from scratch in protecting open space from overdevelopment and suburban sprawl. Voters have consistently supported open space bonding at the ballot box, and we need to ask for their support again, to ensure that the progress we’ve made over the last four decades in protecting open space is not undone.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator John Adler that would make it easier for students to apply for absentee ballots in multiple elections was approved by the Senate State Government Committee today.
“When living away from home, it’s easy to forget to request a new absentee ballot for every election,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “This change will allow students to vote in every election without having to keep track of multiple deadlines.”
TRENTON – The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Shirley Turner that would set up a system to ensure that school employees that have been disqualified from working in schools have had their employment terminated by the school district.
“Our schools must be the epitome of security so that parents can send their children each morning knowing they’ll be safe,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “There is no place for people with known criminal records in our schools, and it is inexcusable that some districts are failing to take the steps required to make sure that all employees have clean records. No longer can districts be allowed to ignore the State’s criminal background requirements.”
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer and a longtime promoter and sponsor of legislation which would move school district elections to coincide with the November general election, made the following statement following the Assembly’s passage of A-15:
“For years I’ve questioned the logic behind holding school elections in the middle of April. These elections have been historically marked by dismally low turnout and have placed an additional financial burden on our local communities.
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, to alert residents of the presence of chemicals that have been applied in the area by commercial pesticide companies through the use of silver flags, was approved by the Senate Environment Committee.
“Pesticide applicators often use a variety of colors and types of flags to mark pesticide applications,” said Senator Scutari, D-Middlesex, Somerset and Union. “This bill would create a uniformed marking system that will clearly differentiate flags being used to mark pesticides from other things like invisible dog fences, underground utility lines, septic tanks, and underground piping.”
On Monday, May 19, Senate committees are scheduled to meet to consider a variety of measures to support renewable energy, and discuss legislation to allow sports betting in New Jersey.
At 1:00 PM in Committee Room 1 in the Statehouse Annex, the Senate Economic Growth Committee will hear a pair of bills, sponsored by Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, to allow wind turbine and solar energy facilities to be located in industrial zones or on preserved farms. According to the bill sponsor, the measures, S-1299 and S-1538, are intended to ensure that the entire State has access to renewable energy generation, and not just areas along the shore which have taken advantage of off-shore turbines.
TRENTON � The Senate Labor Committee today approved a Senate resolution sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney and Senate Minority Leader Thomas H. Kean Jr. to authorize New Jersey voters to permanently ban raids on employer and worker-generated State funds.
The measure, SCR-60, passed unanimously and now goes to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. The entire Labor panel signed on as co-sponsors of the measure.
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg, which would limit the amount hospitals may charge certain uninsured patients for inpatient and outpatient care was unanimously approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“I understand that our hospitals are struggling, which is evident by the increasing number of hospital closures throughout the State,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens panel. “However, we cannot allow hospitals to make up for their financial losses by charging uninsured patients excessively high rates for care – especially when many of these men and women are the least able to pay. This bill is an issue of fairness and parity.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator John A. Girgenti to upgrade the penalty for simple assault to an aggravated assault charge if the victim is a nurse, was approved by the Senate Law Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs Committee today.
“Our nurses provide vital life saving services and unfortunately, many have reported being victims of verbal assault or abuse and physical attacks by patients and family members or visitors,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic. “We currently face the challenge of finding qualified nurses, and it would be in the State’s best interest if we help encourage health professionals by ensuring their working conditions are as comfortable and as safe as possible.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Bob Gordon and Loretta Weinberg, to require that nursing homes convert their beds to pressure redistribution mattresses that help prevent bed sores, was approved by the Senate Health Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today.
“Bed sores can create lasting medical problems for nursing home residents,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen. “The use of pressure redistribution mattresses is widely recognized as one of the more effective ways to prevent and treat bed sores. These special mattresses cost $100 to $200 more than the price of an ordinary mattress and although the price is higher the hope is that the added expense would be offset by the reduced costs of treatment.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Paul A. Sarlo to require international matchmaking companies to submit to criminal background checks as a way to increase homeland security was approved by the Senate Labor Committee today.
“In post 9-11 times, we have the responsibility to protect our citizens by doing background checks on international businesses that bring foreigners into our State,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic. “This bill will enhance homeland security by preventing people with criminal backgrounds from owning or working for organizations which bring non-residents to New Jersey. By investigating these owners and operators we can hopefully prevent these organizations from being used as a means of facilitating terrorism.”