TRENTON – The Senate today gave final approval to a resolution, AJR-64/SJR-32, sponsored in the Senate by Senators Fred Madden and Dana Redd, to designate May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in New Jersey.
“Our goal is to encourage prompt detection of Lyme Disease infection so those afflicted get treated and avoid exposure later on to serious neurological disorders,” said Senator Madden, D-Gloucester and Camden.
TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney today called on the Department of Education to determine if it can block a then-secret 2003 contract authorized by the Keansburg Board of Education which granted a severance package of more than $740,000 for its retiring school superintendent, Barbara Trzeszkowski, when she steps down next month.
“I expect strong support for this probe of an outrageous breach of public trust which all taxpayers of New Jersey will be paying off for years,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “The Department needs to explain how this was allowed to happen even if the reforms we’ve made since will prevent its recurrence.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Bob Gordon which would address hospital finance in an attempt to keep hospitals strong in New Jersey was approved by the Senate today.
“New Jersey spends billions of dollars each year to support our hospitals throughout the state,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen. “At a time when the State has faced the closing of several hospitals for financial reasons, we need to make sure that those funds are being spent as efficiently as possible.”
Sacco/Stack Measure To Give Judges More Flexibility On Driving Penalties In Drug Cases Passes Senate
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Nicholas Sacco and Brian Stack that would allow judges to revoke mandatory driver’s license suspensions in minor drug offenses cases was approved by the full Senate today.
“For many people seeking treatment for drug dependency, being able to drive can mean the difference in their successful completion of the program,” said Senator Sacco, D-Hudson and Bergen. “Judges should have discretion to restore driver’s licenses when there are compelling circumstances so that recovering addicts can get well and become productive members of the community.”
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, today condemned the severance package of more than $740,000 for the retiring school superintendent in Keansburg, Barbara Trzeszkowski, which was sanctioned by the Abbott District’s local school board in 2003.
“The only good news about this gross abuse of public trust is that it probably can’t happen again. These types of secret deals are now required to be posted on school district websites before they’re sanctioned, under legislation approved last year. Plus, we’ve capped sick time payouts at $15,000 for all elected and appointed officials. At least now, executive county school superintendents can step in and block outrageous contracts like this one.
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today called on the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to explain how a Long Island man, who seriously injured a Nassau County police officer while driving under the influence, was able to obtain a license in New Jersey despite having a suspended New York driver’s license.
“We have the who, what, when and where. Now we need the why,” stated Sen. Codey. “Why was this man able to get a New Jersey driver’s license when we have laws in place that clearly prohibit him from doing so? Was it a failure of the system or was it negligence? We need answers now so that this doesn’t happen again in the future.”
TRENTON � The New Jersey State Senate will honor this year�s Super Bowl Champion New York Giants by presenting a ceremonial resolution to Head Coach Tom Coughlin during Thursday�s scheduled Senate session at 2:00 pm. After accepting the resolution, sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey and Senator Paul A. Sarlo, Coughlin will address the Senate on the floor of the Chambers at the Statehouse in Trenton.
In his fourth full season as head coach, Coughlin led the Giants to the Super Bowl XLII title, wowing New Jersey fans with a nail-biting, come-from-behind victory in February.
TRENTON – New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will be in attendance at Thursday’s Senate meeting before the Senate considers a range of bills, including legislation that will strengthen the State’s unemployment insurance fund, provide for the certification of voting machines and prohibit hospitals from charging uninsured individuals more than 15% above Medicare rates.
The Senate will be honoring Coughlin and the rest of the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants at the beginning of the voting session.
Bill S-1698, sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono, would appropriate $260 million dollars to the State’s unemployment compensation fund from the FY08 Budget surplus. The bill would also temporarily change the date on which the fund’s balance is calculated from March 31 to June 30 for 2008 only. The bill’s aim is to prevent an automatic increase in employer payroll taxes triggered by a low balance in the fund.
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.”