TRENTON – The Senate Transportation Committee today approved legislation to fine multiple offender gas gougers up to $3,000 every time they raise the selling price of gasoline more than once in a 24-hour period.
“If the gas gougers laughed off the law last time around, these fines should at least give them straight faces and maybe even straighten out their operations,” said Senator Nicholas J. Sacco, Chairman of the committee and a prime sponsor of the bill, S-2769/S-2800/S-2810.
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Paul Sarlo and Stephen Sweeney that would encourage interstate collaboration among the Mid-Atlantic region in promoting technology was unanimously approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee today.
The bill, S-2703, would ratify the Strengthening the Mid Atlantic Region for Tomorrow (SMART) Research and Development Compact. The Compact would establish a collaborative Science and Technology Organization to promote cooperation and information exchange across the Mid-Atlantic region.
TRENTON – A bipartisan bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny Jr. to remove “Acting” from the title of Acting Governor Richard J. Codey was approved today by the Senate State Government Committee.
“The purpose of the bill, quite honestly, is to make it clear that with (Acting Governor and Senate President Richard J.) Dick Codey, the State of New Jersey got the real deal,” said Senator Kenny. “The “Acting” part of the title just isn’t necessary.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Bob Smith and Joseph V. Doria which would allow municipal governments to take over contaminated site cleanups within the municipality when the property owners have delayed remediation was approved by the Senate Environment Committee by a vote of 4-0, with one abstention.
“In many of our State’s urban areas, economic and environmental blight are very serious problems that local officials are trying to tackle on an everyday basis,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “However, when those efforts are thwarted by large industrial polluters who have simply abandoned environmentally-damaged sites, local officials want to do something to speed up cleanups in their towns. This bill gives municipalities the power to speed along cleanups, and thus, redevelopment and remediation of their communities.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Ellen Karcher that would create “The Domestic Violence and Workforce Development Initiative Act,” and require the State’s workforce development counselors to be trained to address the needs of domestic violence victims was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
“Domestic violence is a very real problem – a problem that can be made worse if a victim feels that he or she is helpless and trapped in a bad situation because of a lack of employment,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “By requiring workforce development counselors and unemployment officers to undergo this training, they would be able to help empower victims of domestic violence to move forward and change their lives for the better.”
TRENTON – The Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation today sponsored by Senators Joseph Vitale and Barbara Buono that would set out specific guidelines for health insurance providers to follow in authorizing the delivery and payment of health care services by doctors and hospitals.
“For most doctors and hospitals, providing the best possible care for their patients is only half the battle,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “Dealing with the bureaucracies created by the health insurance companies to get approval for treatment and final reimbursement can be a nightmare. For doctors, these new standards will be more timely and less uncertain than the current system. “
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would simplify the State’s rules regarding striped bass fishing was unanimously approved today by the Senate Environment Committee.
“Since the State adopted new regulations on striped bass fishing in September 2004, there has been a lot of confusion on what constitutes a legal catch,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “The entire point of setting size standards and a daily catch limit is to encourage conservation of our fisheries, but when fishermen are confused about whether or not they’re in compliance with State law, that point is lost. These updated rules simplify the regulatory process, so that we can accomplish the real goal of protecting our fisheries from depletion while at the same time fostering recreational fishing in New Jersey.”
TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, issued the following statement regarding Committee approval, by a vote of 6-0 with one abstention, of a bill he sponsored with Governor Codey to increase the age at which vendors can legally sell cigarettes from 18 to 19:
“The most sure-fire way to avoid any one of the myriad of health risks attached to smoking is never to start.
“The logic is flawless, but so many of our State’s kids cannot see past the peer pressure of high school to realize just what a risk they’d be taking by lighting up. They only know that on the school yard, the ‘cool kids’ are the ones who smoke.
TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny Jr. made the following comments about the Report of the Benefits Review Task Force.
“I commend the Task Force for its comprehensive assessment of the huge challenge ahead of us to make our public employee benefits programs both fair to recipients and affordable for taxpayers.
TRENTON – Domestic partners would have the same rights as married couples with respect to inheritances and funeral arrangements under a bill sponsored by Senator John Adler and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today.
“When two people have joined together to form a family, whether through marriage or domestic partnership, they should have some basic rights on the passing of their partner,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Currently, same-sex couples have no rights when it comes to administering the funeral of a passed partner. This can be a crucial part of a surviving partner’s grieving process and we need to extend this simple right to domestic partners.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher, Fred H. Madden and Loretta Weinberg which would create a task force on cancer prevention, early detection and treatment in New Jersey was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee by a vote of 7-0.
“In the past, cancer was viewed as a death sentence to anyone diagnosed with it, but now, with early detection and proper treatment, it can be beaten,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “Through the task force, we hope to promote healthy choices by those at-risk of cancer, to give them the best shot possible of surviving the disease. For those already diagnosed, we want to provide the best treatment options, so that we have more people living with cancer rather than dying from cancer.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Fred H. Madden which would allow New Jersey residents to voluntarily contribute to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society when filing their State income tax returns was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 7-0.
“The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provides a number of services to patients living with the cancer and their families, and is dedicated to finding a cure,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “They’re a strictly voluntary health organization that does so much to help the people of New Jersey. Now, the people will have a chance to give back, by filling out a voluntary contribution section on their annual gross income tax form.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Joseph Coniglio to establish a Prostate Cancer Education and Research program in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“Prostate cancer is the is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men, and the odds increase for African-Americans and men over age 65,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “This funding would help New Jersey maintain its role as a national leader in health care research, and work to help save lives here in New Jersey and around the world.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice, which would require Abbott districts to develop an after school program and submit it to voters for funding consent, was approved by the Senate Education Committee today.
“Closing the gap between lower-class and middle-class children requires both better schools and more equal chances for students to achieve,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “While we must continue to improve learning outcomes in the classroom, we must also reach out to our children after class. After school programs can reduce the barriers to achievement, and make a difference in the lives of New Jersey’s children and their families.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono to modernize New Jersey horse racing rules to make the industry competitive with other states was approved today by a Senate committee.
“Our goal with this bill is to ensure that the New Jersey horse racing industry is competitive with neighboring states and compatible with modern technology,” said Senator Buono, Chair of the Senate Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.