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19 Nov: Senator Buono Introduces Measure To Aid Businesses In Purchasing Generators

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono today introduced legislation that would aid gas stations, fire companies, health care providers, and first aid, rescue and emergency squads in better preparing for natural disasters and power outages by providing them with assistance in purchasing power generators.

“It isn’t just a matter of having enough gas to get to the store or to get to work when businesses reopen,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “It’s a matter of public safety and public health for people who need gas to keep their own generators going, including facilities that care for New Jerseyans who require special attention, such as individuals on ventilators or other life support equipment.”

15 Dec: Vitale Bill To Ease Economic Pressures On Closing Hospitals Receives Final Legislative Approval

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee Chairman, Senator Joseph F. Vitale, which would make changes to the Hospital Asset Transformation Program to provide financial assistance to nonprofit hospitals in the process of closing was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 25-11, receiving final legislative approval.

“During these times of economic uncertainty, hospital closings unfortunately have become more and more frequent,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “New Jersey has an existing program to help staunch some of the fiscal hemorrhaging that many health care providers face when closing down a hospital, but when the closure is tied up in the appeals process, the financial assistance is blocked. People served by a hospital have every right to fight as hard as they can to keep that facility open, but at the same time, we need to continue providing transitional health care to the community at large.”

08 Dec: Vitale Bill To Ease Economic Pressures On Closing Hospitals Approved

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee Chairman, Senator Joseph F. Vitale, which would make changes to the Hospital Asset Transformation Program to provide financial assistance to nonprofit hospitals in the process of closing was approved by the Committee today by a vote of 7-0, with 3 abstentions.

“New Jersey needs to do everything it can to ensure a healthy hospital network which meets the health care needs of its residents,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “However, there are times when demand has dried up, or costs are too high, and the only sensible solution is to re-focus our limited State resources elsewhere. When closure is inevitable, the State has a responsibility to make that process as painless as possible for the care-providers and the community at large.”

23 Feb: Baer Proposes Expansion Of Film Commission

TRENTON – Senator Byron M. Baer has introduced legislation which would expand the Motion Picture and Television Development Commission from 11 to 15 members, in order to better address and meet the needs of the film industry.

“New Jersey has been successful in attracting film and television productions since the late 1800’s when Thomas Edison created the industry after inventing the Kinetoscope in West Orange,” said Senator Baer, D-Bergen. “The commission has made it known to the world that New Jersey is an ideal filming location.”