TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would require health insurers in New Jersey to cover treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse disorders under the same terms and conditions used for other diseases and illnesses was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 6-0, with four abstentions.
“Right now in the Garden State, your health insurance safety net isn’t as complete as you’d like to think,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health Committee. “While medical professionals universally consider mental disorders, alcoholism and substance abuse as illnesses, insurers seem to classify these diseases in another realm entirely, and deny coverage to costly, yet effective treatment. There needs to be a measure of parity and equity in how insurers treat medically-identified diseases, to give all New Jersey health consumers access to the treatment they need.”
“Under current insurance regulations, apparently all diseases aren’t created equal,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “Medically necessary treatment for certain mental health disorders and substance abuse are routinely denied because they aren’t classified under the same regulatory definitions as other diseases. We need to step in, and ensure that all New Jerseyans can have the treatment they need, whatever the disease.”
TRENTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would increase the penalties associated with witness intimidation and tampering in order to help law enforcement encourage more witnesses to come forward and testify during criminal court trials.
“One of the biggest problem we have when trying to combat criminal street gangs is getting witnesses to testify in court,” explained Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “These gangs have our neighborhoods paralyzed by the fear of retribution towards anyone who ‘snitches.’ We need to strike back and let witnesses know that the law will protect them and their families.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would allow State psychiatric hospitals to ban on-campus smoking, as long as a smoking cessation program is offered for clients, patients and employees, was unanimously approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“Statistics have shown that the impact of cigarettes and nicotine at psychiatric facilities is higher for a number of reasons, including deeper inhalation, and the negative effect nicotine can have on psychotropic drugs,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, who chairs the panel. “This legislation would send a clear message that we are dedicated to protecting the health of clients, patients and employees at these facilities.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney which would expand the number of Safe Haven centers, and make Safe Haven program information available by dialing 2-1-1, a national exchange for human services information, was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“According to statistics from the Department of Children and Families, since 2000 the lives of 33 babies have been saved with the help of the Safe Haven program,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “When a parent is unable or unwilling to care for a child, the chances that the child will be abused or neglected can only increase. This legislation is about saving our children from abandonment, abuse and neglect, and all of the physical and emotional damage that come along with those actions. By making the Safe Haven centers more accessible, we would be working to save lives.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Steve Sweeney, which would provide workers’ compensation benefits to surviving spouses of police officers or firefighters who die in the line of duty was approved today by the Senate Labor Committee.
“When a person dies in the line of duty, he or she pays the ultimate price in an effort to protect the health and well-being of members of the public,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “This legislation is about helping to provide benefits for the other victims of these tragic events – the families who lose a loved one. These benefits allow spouses to move on financially – we owe this to them.”
“This bill is about helping to protect the people who are left behind after a police officer or firefighter is killed in the line of duty – the spouses,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “This legislation will allow the spouses of these slain police officers and firefighters the means to move on with their lives, all while receiving these benefits to which they are entitled.”
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today pushed forward with a framework for a commuter discount program for frequent drivers that would be used to help subsidize the cost of increased toll fees should the Governor’s proposed toll plan become law.
“If there is going to be a toll increase to pay off our state’s debt and fund transportation projects, we must couple it with a frequent user discount plan to ease some of the burden that will be placed on our drivers,” said Sen. Codey. “The Governor has indicated that even if his proposal does not become law, he intends to raise tolls to help address some of our fiscal needs. Keeping that in mind, we must be prepared to move forward with a way to help offset the cost to those who will be hit hardest.”
TRENTON – Senate Committees will meet on Monday to consider a wide array of new legislation, including a package of bills sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would implement some of the recommendations of the Motor Vehicle Affordability and Fairness Task Force.
Senator Turner’s bill will be considered by the Senator Transportation Committee at their 10 a.m. meeting.
TRENTON – Senator Loretta Weinberg proposed legislation today which will cap the amount of money that sitting public officials can accept for legal defense funds, and require that such contributions be disclosed to the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), in order to ensure transparency and accountability in the prosecution of corrupt public officials.
“In this country, everybody is entitled to a fair and speedy trial,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen, an advocate for ethical protections and greater transparency in government. “However, public officials who are accused of official misconduct should disclose to the public just who is contributing to their legal defense, and there should be a cap on the generosity of their supporters. It’s a mockery of the judicial system when accused elected officials can hire superstar lawyers and escape prosecution for their crimes, and this bill would ensure a far more rational, fair and just model.”
TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, Chair of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, said the panel’s review of Governor Corzine’s toll road-debt reduction plan should test the Chief Executive’s avowed willingness to compromise to get his proposal passed in the Legislature.
“I’m encouraged by the Governor’s openness to accepting changes (to his plan) because there will be changes,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “So far, he (Corzine) has done a good job expressing the need to cut our State debt ($32 billion) in half so we act on needed quality of life improvements.”
TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s Committee hearing on the Governor’s financial restructuring plan, which is balanced on the assumption of a public benefits corporation which will be empowered to institute massive toll hikes over the next 14 years:
“While I can appreciate what Governor Corzine is attempting to do in terms of fixing New Jersey’s perennial budgetary problems and tackling the State’s ever-increasing debt obligations, I have a number of serious concerns regarding his current proposal.
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner made the following statement today following a Senate Budget and Appropriations hearing on the Governor’s State financial restructuring plan:
“I applaud the Governor in his attempt to reduce spending and get our financial house in order. We have ignored our financial problems for far too long.
TRENTON – Senator Brian P. Stack today said Hudson County residents are “deeply concerned” about the impact of the Corzine Administration’s toll road-debt reduction plan on their daily lives.
“Lately, it’s been the number one concern I hear about,” said Senator Stack, D-33. “People who use the turnpike on their daily commute will definitely need a break from the highest fare increases.”
TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney today urged his legislative colleagues to study the Corzine Administration’s toll road-debt reduction plan , accept it as it is, offer changes or come forth with a workable alternative.
“It’s not acceptable to condemn the proposal and then just walk away from the problem” said Senator Sweeney. “Criticism’s easy, but finding a solution is the hard work that has to get done.”
TRENTON – Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today said that while she is open to the idea of Governor Corzine’s toll increase as a method to help cut State debt, more details are necessary to determine the impact on drivers, specifically those in the 31st Legislative District.
“During today’s Committee meeting we heard testimony from residents and interest groups on either side of the tax increase argument,” said Senator Cunningham, D-Hudson. “While I agree that something has to be done to address the State’s debt, I cannot be sure that this plan is the right solution until I have seen a bill.”
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today said that the plan being proposed as an alternative to raising tolls – a call for a combination of smaller toll increases along with a gas tax increase – is “unacceptable.”
“This proposal does not make very much sense. The gas tax tends to be regressive and it would be felt the most by the same people that use our roads the most. For these people, it would be a crippling double whammy. In my opinion, this proposal is unacceptable and only inflicts pain on a broader number of people.