TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would allow all municipalities to require landlords of “animal houses” to post bonds passed the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today.
“It’s time for the landlords of real-life ‘animal houses’ to take responsibility for the irresponsible actions of those they rent to,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “The local municipalities shouldn’t bear the cost of repeatrdly breaking up college parties. Requiring bonds has been a proven method in shore communities for reducing disruptions coming from rentals.”
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would amend and expand the duties and powers of the State Commission of Investigation (SCI) to facilitate greater scrutiny of New Jersey State government was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a unanimous vote.
“Reports of unethical behavior in New Jersey government have always been a blight on the record of good work that government officials do on behalf of New Jersey citizens every day,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “The SCI exists as a police organization to keep government an institution ‘for the people,’ instead of allowing it to degenerate into an institution for themselves. If we are going to rid ourselves from the blight of corruption on New Jersey government, we have to give the SCI greater and broader authority to keep government honest.”
TRENTON – Six Senate committees are scheduled to meet on Monday to consider issues ranging from the plight of the working poor to the restoration of “Ladies Nights” in bars and restaurants to bans on lawsuits by people claiming fast food restaurants made them fat.
Other bills up for consideration before the Senate panels involve municipal sanctions against landlords who rent so-called “Animal Houses” near colleges and in resort areas, the coordination of emergency response teams and disclosure requirements of staffing levels at nursing homes.
TRENTON – The Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday November 8, in Committee Room 1 of the State House Annex to discuss the need for better conditions for the State’s working poor.
Labor Committee Chairman, Senator Stephen M. Sweeney believes that this hearing is important to address and help correct the issues affecting New Jersey’s working poor.
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would amend the State’s charitable immunity clause to allow sexual assault victims to sue charitable organizations when the organization negligently hired or retained in their employment a sexual predator, will be considered on Monday by the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.
“When an organization threatens a child’s physical safety or psychological welfare by placing the child in an unsafe environment, that organization must be held liable,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “For too long, charitable groups have shrugged off their responsibility under charitable immunity edicts to ensure child safety, and in the meantime, they’ve harbored vicious sexual predators who have done so much damage to their victims. We need to have a higher standard when the safety of our kids is at risk.”
TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey announced today that he plans to enact an Executive Order to expand a law he sponsored banning contingency fees paid to lobbyists to also apply to consultants and consulting firms seeking bond underwriting contracts from the State, as part of his broader effort to reduce the influence of money on government and regain the public trust.
“I see a real conflict in the fact that some of these third-party consultants are receiving enormous commissions, and in some cases a percentage based on the state contract itself, when the same consultants are also able to provide campaign contributions,” said Senator Codey. “Expanding the law I sponsored banning lobbyist contingency fees to third-party brokerage consultants will close this gaping loophole and further reduce the influence of money on government.”
TURNERSVILLE – Senator Fred H. Madden and Assemblymen David R. Mayer and Robert J. Smith in conjunction with Land Dimensions Engineering will be sponsoring a Thanksgiving drive to benefit the troops stationed in the Middle East.
“These men and women are in the Middle East, working to restore world-wide peace,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. ” These soldiers are risking their lives to help us maintain ours in a manner to which we are accustomed, and I think that it is the least we can do to help provide them with these basic necessities.