The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee is responsible for reviewing legislation dealing with police, fire and emergency management services, public safety regulations, criminalization of activities and legal ramifications of crimes.
Democratic Research Aide:  Nicole A. Brown   
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Riley, Benson & Lampitt Bill Aimed at Helping Diabetics Avoid Confrontations with Police Continues Advancing

Asw. Celeste Riley Assembly approved legislation Assembly Democrats Celeste Riley, Daniel R. Benson and Pamela Lampitt sponsored to help avoid problems between diabetics and police officers was released Tuesday by the Senate budget panel.

"The notation is to be used solely by law enforcement officials or emergency medical professionals to diagnose a person who has been rendered unable to communicate due to a diabetic seizure," said Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). "We've seen too many misunderstandings between diabetics and police officers that could have been avoided with this basic knowledge. This will be a big step toward resolving this ever-present worry for both diabetics and police..."

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Assembly Democratic Bill Regulating Gun Purchases, Permitting, Internet Ammunition Sales & Mental Health Screening Released by Assembly Panel

Majority Leader Lou Greenwald Consolidated Assembly Democratic legislation to combat gun violence in New Jersey by improving firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits, requiring firearms safety training, enhancing mental health screening and changing how Internet sales of ammunition are tracked was released Monday by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-4182) sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington) is part of the Assembly Democratic gun violence prevention effort and features provisions from eight bills approved by the Assembly in February as part of its sweeping gun violence prevention initiative. The consolidated bill includes elements of...

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Mainor & Quijano Bill to Require Proper Notice of Counter-Terrorism Operations in NJ by Out-of-State Law Enforcement Advances

Measure Looks to Avoid Repeat of Controversial Secret Interstate Surveillance of Muslim Residents in New Jersey by New York City Police Department
(TRENTON) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Charles Mainor and Annette Quijano that would require out-of-state law enforcement to properly notify law enforcement officials in New Jersey of intended counter-terrorism investigations in the state continues to advance in the Senate. The bill was released by the Senate law and Public Safety Committee on Monday.

"No doubt we must protect our country against the threat of terrorism, but not at the expense of civil liberties. The Attorney General's review into the NYPD surveillance operation found no laws were broken, but a line was definitely crossed. This bill helps dictate that surveillance in our backyard by other states, without our knowledge and adequate justification, cannot happen again," said Mainor (D-Hudson).

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Multiple Animal Protection Measures Albano, Andrzejcak, & Caride Sponsored to Strengthen New Jersey Law Advances in Assembly

Bills to Establish Minimal Penalties, Court-Ordered Mental Health Counseling for Animal Cruelty Offenses, and Revises NJ Law for Euthanizing at Impounds
(TRENTON) - The Assembly Agriculture Committee released on Monday a group of measures sponsored by Assembly Democrats Nelson Albano, Bob Andrzejcak and Marlene Caride to bolster state law concerning animal cruelty offenses.

Among six measures is legislation that would make animal abusers pay for an animal's medical costs; require mental health counseling for perpetrators; establish a new offense for cruelly restraining a dog; address improper euthanizing of animals as a criminal act; create minimal criminal penalties and revise to strengthen current law pertaining to animal cruelty offenses.

The sponsors note the court-ordered mental health counseling will be mandatory and paid for by the violator. The bill (A-3900) also would allow the court to also impose restrictions on ownership.

"We have seen more and more cases of animal abuse and neglect in the news today," said Albano (D-Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland), a sponsor of all six measures. "These measures will help us let individuals who abuse animals know that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. These perpetrators must also foot the bill for all medical costs of the animal they have abused."

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Wilson Bill Package Cracking Down on Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Advanced by Assembly Panel

Bills Would Toughen Penalties for Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Allow Authorities to Impound Vehicles Found With Illegal Guns
An Assembly panel on Thursday approved a two-bill package sponsored by Assemblyman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson to toughen the penalties for anyone convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm.

"We need to send the strongest message possible that gun crimes will not be tolerated," said Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester). "This bill protects the rights of law-abiding gun owners while going after criminals. Essentially, we're saying, 'We are taking back our streets and we're not going to tolerate senseless gun violence in our communities anymore.'"

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Mainor Bill to Toughen Penalties for Those who Unlawfully Let a Child Possess a Firearm Released by Assembly Committee

Bill is Part of Assembly Democratic Gun Violence Prevention Initiative

Legislation Assembly Democrat Charles Mainor sponsored to upgrade the penalty for unlawfully selling, giving or transferring a firearm to an underage person was released Thursday by an Assembly panel.

"Here in New Jersey we've seen, so tragically, and sadly more than once, what can happen when a child gets hold of a firearm," said Mainor (D-Hudson). "If someone is careless with their firearm and lets a child have it, then they deserve a severe punishment. It's that simple, really..."

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Assembly Panel Moves Watson Coleman Legislation to Require Bail Restrictions for Certain Weapons Offenses

Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman that would add certain weapons offenses to the list of crimes with mandatory bail restrictions cleared the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee voted on Thursday.

"We have witnessed one too many instances of senseless violence throughout the country in recent years. We've watched communities suffer as a result of these tragedies," said Watson-Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). "Making clear weapons offenses will come with the toughest bail restrictions is the right thing to do..."

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Johnson Bill to Raise Public Awareness Concerning Gun Records Available to the Public OK'd by Assembly Panel

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen) to make the public better aware that certain firearms records are available to them under the state's open public records law was released Thursday by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.

"Providing the public with information is always a good thing. There are many opinions concerning gun violence and ways to prevent it. This bill allows residents to access valuable information about the total number of gun permits and firearms identification cards in the state without jeopardizing anyone's privacy," said Johnson. "The better informed the public is, the better able they will be to make their own determinations about this and other divisive issues that affect us all,.."

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Conaway, Moriarty, Mosquera & Benson Bill to Strengthen Qualifications for Dieticians & Nutritionists OK'd by Assembly Panel

Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Herb Conaway, M.D., Paul Moriarty, Gabriela Mosquera and Daniel Benson to license New Jersey dieticians and nutritionists in order to ensure they meet education and training standards was released Thursday by an Assembly panel.

"New Jersey is one of just a few states without any licensing requirements for nutritionists and dieticians," said Conaway (D-Burlington), a practicing physician and chair of the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee. "Professional nutritional advice can improve the quality of life for infants to the elderly, the chronically ill to the physically fit. By setting basic standards for all dieticians to meet, we can protect New Jersey consumers from improper nutritional counseling that can have serious, adverse and lasting effects on their health..."

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Singleton, Oliver, Eustace, Spencer, Sumter & Caride Two-Bill Package to Toughen Penalties for Gun Trafficking In NJ OK'd by Assembly Panel

A legislative package sponsored by Assemblyman Troy Singleton, Speaker Sheila Oliver, Assemblyman Tim Eustace, Assemblywoman Grace Spencer, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter and Assemblywoman Marlene Caride to enhance penalties for gun trafficking in New Jersey was released Thursday by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.

"Many of the weapons used in gun crimes are brought into the state illegally. These bills send a clear message that this will not be tolerated," said Singleton (D-Burlington). "If you provide the car that enables a trafficker to smuggle guns into our neighborhoods, get ready to buy a new one. If you're going to smuggle guns, understand that you are going to spend a considerable time in jail..."

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More Gun Violence Prevention Bills, Tougher Penalties for Child Pornography, Mortgage Assistance & Helping Businesses Avoid Impending Tax Hike Highlight Thursday Assembly Committee Meetings

Consumer Electronics Protection, Relief from Utility Telemarketing, Enhanced Requirements for Utilities During Disasters & Mental Health Parity Also on Tap

More gun violence prevention bills, tougher penalties for child pornography, helping homeowners avoid foreclosure and helping businesses avoid an impending tax increase top Thursday's Assembly committee agendas.

Consumer electronics protections, relief from telemarketing by utilities, enhanced public notice requirements for utilities during emergencies and mental health parity are also on tap...

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Moriarty to Introduce Bill to Equip All New Police Cars in New Jersey with Cameras

Asm. Paul Moriarty Bill Stems from Lawmakers Personal Experience & Would Provide Protection to Residents & Police Officers Alike

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty - whose innocence in a recent law enforcement encounter was proven by a police car's dashboard camera - on Monday announced he plans to introduce legislation that would eventually equip all police cars in New Jersey with cameras.

"Having a visual record of a traffic stop provides the best evidence for police to use in court," Moriarty said. "The video doesn't lie. It doesn't forget what is said. It is impartial and may, in fact, help reduce protracted court cases and litigation. To not have a visual recorder in police cars used for traffic stops is like having an office desk without a computer..."

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Stender, Fuentes Bill to Prohibit Issuing Gun Licenses/Permits to Persons Listed on FBI Terrorist Watchlist Gains Final Legislative Approval

(Trenton) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Linda Stender and Angel Fuentes to deny any person on the FBI Terrorist Watchlist a firearms identification card or permit received today final legislative approval (35-0) in an afternoon Senate voting session. This measure is one of numerous bills in a sweeping Assembly Democratic gun violence prevention bill package.

The bill (A-3687) would disqualify a person named on the consolidated Terrorist Watchlist maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Terrorist Screening Center from being issued either a firearm's identification card or a permit to purchase a handgun. It would be effective immediately upon enactment.

"Terrorists are on the Watchlist because their intentions to harm people and property are well known," said Stender (D-Middlesex, Somerset and Union.) "It's reasonable protection that terrorists are denied access to NJ gun permits and licenses.

"It's simple common sense."

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Jasey, McKeon, Cryan & Johnson Bill to Bar N.J. from Investing in Companies that Manufacture, Import or Sell Assault Weapons Gets Final Legislative Approval

Asw. Mila Jasey Legislation Assembly Democrats Mila M. Jasey, John McKeon, Joseph Cryan and Gordon M. Johnson sponsored to ensure New Jersey taxpayer money isn't going to companies that manufacture, import or sell assault firearms for civilian use was approved 23-17 on Thursday by the Senate, giving it final legislative approval.

"New Jersey has taken strong stands against governments that violate basic human rights, and now it's time to do the same against companies that put assault firearms onto our streets, putting us all at risk," said Jasey (D-Essex/Morris). "We can't stop the manufacture or sale of these assault weapons across the nation, but we can make it more difficult for these companies to do so..."

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Lampitt, Singleton, Eustace & Gusciora Measure to Tighten Mental Health Oversight for Gun Owners Gets Final Legislative OK

Legislation is Part of Assembly's Comprehensive Anti-Gun Violence Initiative
Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Pamela Lampitt, Troy Singleton, Tim Eustace and Reed Gusciora to tighten mental health oversight for gun owners was given final legislative approval 38-0 by the full Senate on Thursday.

The measure is part of the comprehensive Assembly Democratic anti-gun violence initiative, which is comprised of roughly two dozen bills. The bill (A-3717) would make it mandatory for the state to submit certain mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

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***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE*** Wilson on Legislation Creating 'School Security Task Force'

Assemblyman Gilbert L. Assemblyman Gilbert L. "Whip" Wilson issued a multimedia package Wednesday on legislation he sponsored to create a task force charged with making recommendations to improve security and makes schools safer.

Wilson's measure (A-3583/1613), part of the Assembly Democratic gun violence prevention package, would establish an 11-member School Security Task Force to study and develop recommendations for improving school security and safety and ensuring a safe learning environment for students and school employees.

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