TRENTON – The Senate Education Committee approved legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Ellen Karcher that would enact new nutritional standards for food sold in public schools, limiting the availability of high-calorie beverages and foods high in sugar or fat to students during school hours.
“Far too many school-aged children are dealing with obesity and the health problems it causes,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “School isn’t only about teaching kids the three R’s. It’s also about exposing them to a healthy and responsible behaviors and giving them the knowledge needed to make the right choices as they reach adulthood. The lessons learned now in choosing healthy foods will stay with them a lifetime.”
TRENTON – Three bills, crafted in response to the New Year’s Day gang-related uprising of inmates at Bayside State Prison, were released today by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee.
“We learned from our hearings that the officers need more effective training in dealing with gangs and that the Corrections Commissioner should be required to investigate disturbances and recommend fixable remedies after there is a serious injury or death at a prison,” said Senator John A. Girgenti, the committee Chairman.
TRENTON – On Monday, the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee will consider three bills, sponsored by Committee Chairman, Senator John A. Girgenti, which would make vital prison reforms in the wake of a New Year’s Day incident at Bayside State Prison in which nearly 30 Corrections officers were hospitalized with injuries.
Senator Girgenti said he anticipated bipartisan support for the three bills, which were introduced following two Law and Public Safety Committee hearings earlier this year on the outbreak of violence at Bayside Prison. The bills, S-2536, S-2537 and S-2538, would direct the Commissioner of Corrections to study deficiencies in a facility when violence occurs there, implement a telecommunications voice mail system to inform staff of potential prison uprisings during shift changes, and would require corrections officers in State facilities to complete continued education training in a number of topics, including gang control in prison.
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria which would repeal last year’s air toxics surcharge in order to create a more equitable regulatory environment for New Jersey businesses was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee by a vote of 12-0.
“While the environment must be of the utmost concern to all residents of New Jersey, including corporate residents, the air toxics surcharge has been widely regarded as unfair and overly harsh on manufacturers in the State,” said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. “Our State’s Department of Environmental Protection has even supported repealing the surcharge, due to the fact that it isn’t an effective environmental safeguard, but rather a budget revenue raiser. Even though we’re in yet another tight budgetary cycle, we must exercise fairness with our State’s business partners, and repealing the air toxics surcharge would accomplish just that.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria which would authorize the Secretary of State to establish a nonprofit organization known as the Asian American Study Foundation to promote the culture and contributions of New Jersey’s significant Asian American population was unanimously approved by the Senate State Government Committee today.
“New Jersey’s Asian American community is a vital part of the tapestry of the Garden State, complete with a culture and traditions all its own,” said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. “We must do what we can to foster this community and educate the State to the many contributions Asian Americans have made in our society.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Byron Baer, Joseph Coniglio and Nicholas P. Scutari, which would make polling places more accessible to seniors and individuals with disabilities, was approved today by the Assembly State Government Committee.
“As American citizens, we are given the right to vote but for many elderly and disabled individuals that right is often taken away by inaccessible polling locations, ” said Senator Baer, D-Bergen. “We need to be certain that all of the voting locations comply with the ‘Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990’ so that seniors and individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to exercise the right to vote.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and John H. Adler that would amend the “Spill Compensation and Control Act” to increase the monetary penalties for owners of vessels that discharge hazardous chemicals was approved today by the Senate Environment Committee.
“The penalties that were established with the “Spill Compensation and Control Act” are so low that they don’t provide much incentive for companies to abide by the law. Many companies would just rather pay the fines because they are cheaper in the long run,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “This measure would force the owners of shipping companies to make the necessary changes to protect our waterways, or pay costly fines.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Joseph Coniglio and Nia Gill that would appropriate $25 million to finance State and local flood control projects was passed by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.
“With two major floods in the past year, we know that sound water management and flood control are essential in reducing the damage caused by any future floods,” said Senator Congilio, D-Bergen. “The people of New Jersey also realize the need to maintain the integrity of our lakes, streams and dams so that every major storm doesn’t result in a federal emergency, causing people to lose their homes or business to rising flood waters. We saw the potential for devestation with the Saddle River flooding during Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and this bill is the culmination of six years of fighting to get money to fix the problems that led to that flood.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney that would ban the sale of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) in New Jersey was unanimously approved today by the Senate Environment Committee.
“Outlawing the sale of MTBE within New Jersey is a matter of protecting the health and environment for residents,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “Other states have banned MTBE because of the health risks it poses when it leaks into soil and drinking water supplies. By outlawing the sale of MTBE within the State, we would be taking the necessary measures to help preserve our natural resources for future generations.”
TRENTON – The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved a resolution today sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono that would call upon Congress to reject any plans by the Bush Administration to harm Social Security through the use of private accounts.
“President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security is just wrong. It’s wrong for workers. It’s wrong for retirees. It’s wrong for America,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “The only people who would benefit from this are stock brokers and mutual fund managers, who would see their fees skyrocket. Issues with Social Security’s long-term solvency do need to be addressed, but private accounts are not the answer.”
TRENTON – Two bills sponsored by Senator Bob Smith were approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The bills, and their identical counterparts in the Assembly, which were also approved by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee today, are designed to improve New Jersey’s air quality and reduce diesel emissions in the State.
“New Jersey can breathe a little easier knowing that measures to protect and enhance the quality of air in the Garden State are moving forward in the Legislature,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee. “New Jersey has the unenviable position of being one of the worst states in the nation in terms of air quality, and that translates to real world health hazards for our residents who suffer from chronic bronchitis and asthma, as well as increasing the likelihood for instances of cancer and heart conditions in New Jersey residents. We cannot ignore the problem while hundreds of New Jerseyans die each year because of our polluted air.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Sens. Nia H. Gill and Ronald L. Rice to authorize seniors to terminate residential leases when they gain access to an assisted living facility, nursing home, continuing care community or low or moderate income housing received final legislative approval today in the Assembly.
“Senior citizens should not be forced to endure heavy financial burdens when they must move from rental housing to assisted living or to a nursing home,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic. “This bill will provide a measure of tranquility for families helping their elder loved ones get settled in an assisted living environment.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice which would require the Department of Heath and Senior Services (DHSS) to relax the admissions criteria for a long-term care facility which serves those with AIDS, received final approval in the Assembly today.
“The urban community is quickly losing the battles against AIDS,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “Modern medicine has been able to sustain the lives of those infected with AIDS, but many who have this disease are unable to take proper care of themselves. Those with other illnesses need special nursing care, but are denied because of strict admissions rules.”
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Joseph Coniglio and Paul A. Sarlo that would work to increase pedestrian safety at dangerous crosswalks and intersections received final legislative approval today in the Assembly.
“As congestion and traffic become ever increasing nuisances to the people of New Jersey, we need to take every step possible to encourage people to walk more and use their cars less,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “We are working hard to make sure that crosswalks and intersections are as safe as possible for pedestrians, so that New Jersey residents will be more likely to walk to the grocery store, their child’s school or a neighbor’s house.”
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Ronald L. Rice and Nia H. Gill which would create a 26-member Gangland Security Task Force to examine the activities of gangs and the effect that these gangs have on communities, received final approval today.
“Gangs are taking over our streets and the safety of our residents is at stake,” said Senator Rice. D-Essex. “Whether you live in Princeton or Newark, gangs are growing and no neighborhood is safe. We need to come together as a united community and find alternative activities to gang banging.”