S2194

03 Dec: Van Drew Blocks Attempt To Add Fee To His Saltwater Fishing Registry

TRENTON – Sen. Jeff Van Drew today blocked attempts amend his bill establishing a recreational saltwater fishing registry to include a fee.

Sen. Van Drew said he will continue to work with fishing and outdoor recreations groups, the Department of Environmental Protection and fellow legislators to create the saltwater fishing registry, but he remains adamantly opposed to imposition of any fee on anglers. The bill (S2194) was reviewed by the Senate Environment Committee, but was held without taking a vote.

02 Dec: Senate To Consider Saltwater Fishing Registry, Banning Unsolicited Text Message Ads, Solar Wind Energy Development Thursday

TRENTON – A group of Senate committees will meet tomorrow, Thursday December 3, to discuss a number of bills, addressing issues ranging from the creation of a salt water fishing registry, to banning the use of text messages for sending unsolicited advertisements.

One measure, S-2194, sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew, would require the State to implement a free saltwater fishing registry pursuant to the federal Magnuson-Stevenson Fishery Convention and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006. In accordance with the Act, Senator Van Drew’s bill would create the registry to identify all saltwater anglers that can be contacted to gain accurate recreational fishery information to improve the management of State fisheries.

“My bill would establish a free registry that will be used help National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations determine who is catching what, and would do so without burdening New Jerseyans with yet another fee,” Sen. Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic said. “Think of the additional tourism dollars we could attract if we let sport fishermen around the country know they can come fish New Jersey’s coastal waters without having to pay for a fishing license.”

Senator Jeff Van Drew listens to testimony during the Senate Environment Committee.

25 Nov: Van Drew Calls For Action On His Recreational Saltwater Fishing Registry

TRENTON – Sen. Jeff Van Drew said the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Marine Fisheries Council should establish a free recreational saltwater fishing registry to comply with federal law aimed at improving the management of the nation’s fisheries.

Sen. Van Drew (D-Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland) is the prime sponsor of a bill (S2194) that would require the state to implement a saltwater fishing registry pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006. His bill differs from similar proposed legislation in that registration would be free.

08 Dec: Senate Concurs with Governor on Contracting Reform Bill

TRENTON – The Senate today approved Governor Codey’s conditional veto of a bill to reform State and local contracting procedures based on the EZPass scandal during the Whitman Administration. The vote was 39-0 and it now moves to the Assembly.

“This measure will ensure greater integrity and accountability in the state and local contracting process,” said Senator Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, Middlesex and Somerset, and a prime sponsor of the reform legislation, S-2194.

31 Jan: Senate panel Advances Karcher-Scutari Contract Reform Bill

TRENTON – The Senate State Government Committee today approved a bill sponsored by Senators Ellen Karcher and Nicholas Scutari to reform State contracting procedures by ensuring accountability, improving ethics and saving taxpayers millions of dollars annually.

“It’s bad news for taxpayers when State contracts are awarded based on campaign contributions,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “The bill reflects the lessons learned from the bungled E-ZPass and Parsons motor vehicles inspections contracts of the Whitman Administration.”

28 Jan: Four Senate Committees To Meet On Monday

TRENTON – Members of the Senate Environment, State Government, Commerce and Transportation Committees will meet on Monday.

The Senate State Government Committee will consider two pieces of legislation aimed at reducing waste and fraud in state government. Bill S-2194, sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher, will implement suggestions made by the State Commission of Investigation to revamp the State’s contracting process. Bill S-2195, sponsored by Senator Bernard Kenny, will codify Governor Codey’s Executive Order establishing the Office of the Inspector General.

22 Dec: Karcher-Scutari Bill Would Reform State Purchasing

TRENTON – Two Democratic Senators – Ellen Karcher and Nicholas Scutari – have introduced a bill, S-2194, that would re-structure State purchasing procedures and implement reforms recommended by the State Commission of Investigation after its probe of the bungled E-ZPass electronic toll collection contract awarded by the Whitman Administration.

“These reforms will save money for New Jersey taxpayers and will help clean up the way we award State contracts so they go to those most qualified to do the job,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer.