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TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono which would give college students the ability to opt out of duplicative health insurance coverage offered by institutions of higher education in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Education Committee today by a vote of 3-2.

“As the cost of college continues to rise, and students struggle to pay for higher education around the nation, we need to do everything we can to keep a college education affordable in New Jersey,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “The intent of the current law to require on-campus college students to carry health coverage is not to punish students, but protect the institutions from liability. If the student can prove outside coverage, they should be given the opportunity to decline duplicative coverage, and save themselves and their parents a few dollars on room and board fees.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph V. Doria which would establish a pilot eye exam program for second grade students in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Education Committee today by a vote of 4-0.

“Undiagnosed vision problems are a major impediment for children to achieve their educational potential,” said Senator Doria, D-Hudson, Vice Chair of the Education Committee. “Too often, kids don’t speak up about any vision problems they may be experiencing, and they start falling behind in their studies because they can’t see the blackboard. By giving parents an idea of their children’s eye care needs, we can hopefully equip our State’s students to do the best they can in their studies.”