TRENTON – Saying that “New Jersey needs to better help protect consumers from scammers preying on the financially vulnerable,” Senator Shirley K. Turner welcomed today’s Senate Commerce Committee approval of her bill to license and regulate “foreclosure consultants.”
“With the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market, there are plenty of so-called ‘foreclosure consultants’ looking to take advantage of people desperate to keep their homes,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “These hucksters promise their clients a quick fix, but more often than not just help dig a deeper hole.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Paul A. Sarlo which would offer tax credit incentives to digital media production companies to relocate to New Jersey was unanimously approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.
“New Jersey needs to invest in its economic future if we’re going to remain financially competitive in the world,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic. “Due to the high cost of living and doing business in the Garden State, we’re hemorrhaging valuable business partners at an alarming rate. By attracting emerging technology to set up shop here, we can ensure New Jersey’s continued economic vitality for years to come.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred Madden which would allow owners and operators of licensed child care centers to be reimbursed for the cost of hazardous site ground and building contamination assessments was unanimously approved today by the Senate Environment Committee.
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the Kiddie Kollege situation, it’s the importance of making sure that the facilities that care for our children are environmentally safe,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “This legislation will provide a mechanism to reimburse the costs associated with conducting the necessary testing to assure the environmental safety of sites.”
TRENTON – Two bills, sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden, to promote motorcycle safety was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee today.
“As temperatures around the state heat up, so will the number of motorcycles on our roads,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “Across the country there has been an increase in motorcycle riding but unfortunately, that increase has been accompanied by a growing number of motorcycle-related fatalities. By increasing awareness and providing safety courses we can drastically reduce the number of motorcycle accidents in New Jersey.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators John A. Girgenti and Nicholas J. Sacco to honor a prominent transportation expert, former Congressman Robert A. Roe, by designating Route No. 23 in his name, was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee.
“Congressman Robert A. Roe played a leading role in promoting the growth and development of New Jersey’s bridges and infrastructure,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic. “As the Chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee and primary author of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991, Congressman Roe’s crowning achievement was delivering billions of transportation dollars to New Jersey. Congressman Roe had a long and distinguished career in public service and for his many contributions to the State it’s appropriate to designate Route 23 for him.”
TRENTON – Several key Senate committees will convene here Thursday to consider issues of importance to the people of New Jersey such as paid family leave, global warming and regulation of self-styled foreclosure consultants.
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider S-2249, a bill that would extend temporary disability benefits to include up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for workers caring for sick family members as well as newborn and newly adopted children.
TRENTON – Senator Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem released the following statement today regarding a news conference on SCR-136/ACR-10 – legislation which would allow voters to decide in November whether or not to dedicate $175 million of State sales tax revenue to renew New Jersey’s Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT):
“Right now we are in a race against time. New Jersey is already the nation’s most densely populated state, and if development continues at its current rate, we will most definitely be the first state in the country to be built out.
TRENTON – Senator Ronald L. Rice recently introduced a measure to require public officials to work with the State Attorney General when they have actual knowledge of corruption.
“I’m serious about restoring faith in government by cracking down on those who refuse to report corruption,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “It’s critical that my colleagues in the Legislature support this measure and show the public that we take our elected positions seriously and we are not interested in playing political games.”
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) applauded the Assembly Judiciary Committee for approving bills S1979/A3905 and S1978/A4096, paving the way for final passage of legislation that will give New Jersey some of the toughest tools in the nation to crack down on the growing threat of Internet predators.
“I applaud the Assembly for going at this threat with the same tenacity that the Senate has employed,” said Sen. Codey. “Every day we see reports on television of sick people taking advantage of the Internet to prey on our children. The time has come to pull the plug on these criminals.
TRENTON – A bill package sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg and Joseph Coniglio which would improve New Jersey’s support infrastructure for families and individuals coping with autism was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Services Committee today.
“As of February, 2007, the federal Centers for Disease Control identified New Jersey as having the highest rate of autism incidence in the nation,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “With our increased understanding of the spectrum of autism disorders comes the increased responsibility of providing a support system for families and individuals living with autism in the Garden State.”
TRENTON – Bills sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would enhance New Jersey’s response to children and adults living with autism in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Services Committee today.
“Autism rates across the nation are soaring, and while we’re expanding our knowledge about the disorders and effective treatment, more and more kids are being diagnosed,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “New Jersey has the highest rate of autism in the United States, and we need to provide a support system which addresses the needs of autistic individuals as well as their families. These bills will go a long way, ranging from early childhood support to adult autistic services, to stepping up New Jersey’s response to the autism epidemic.”
TRENTON – The Senate Education Committee today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner which would instruct local school districts and municipalities to work together to develop action plans in case of a school crisis.
“The tragedy at Virginia Tech serves as a somber reminder that we must be ever-vigilant in keeping our schools safe so that our children may learn in a secure environment,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and Chair of the Committee. “Preparation is the key to safety, and it is critical that we have a clear, well-developed crisis plan for every school in New Jersey.”
TURNERSVILLE, NJ – The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today passed S-324 – legislation sponsored by Senator Fred Madden which would allow the owner of a commercial, industrial or apartment property to apply for an exemption from taxation on the value added from any new security enhancements made to the property.
“This legislation provides incentives for property owners to make necessary security enhancements,” Madden (D-Gloucester, Camden). “The changes will help prevent criminal activities from occurring on the property grounds.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher and Barbara Buono which would prohibit any State or local public agencies from making campaign contributions using public dollars was unanimously approved by the Assembly State Government Committee today.
“With New Jersey’s highest-in-the-nation property taxes, the people of the Garden State cannot afford to subsidize a politician’s campaign war chest,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “However, through a loophole in current law, public funds have been diverted into the campaign coffers of well-connected lawmakers, at the expense of accountable government. We need to close this loophole, and ensure taxpayers’ dollars aren’t wasted currying favor through the pay-to-play process.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Joseph V. Doria which would prohibit school districts from hiring registered lobbyists was approved by the Senate Education Committee today by a vote of 3-0.
“With New Jersey’s soaring property taxes, parents want to know their tax dollars are being spent on educating their children, not greasing the wheels of government,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “For one level of government to hire a private firm to influence another level of government seems ridiculous, particularly when funds are tight, and schools have built-in advocates in their legislative representatives. Education funding should be going to the classroom, and not into the pockets of a well-connected lobbyist.”