Diminishing Energy Tax Receipts for Municipalities, Domestic Violence Protections, Better Services for Seniors, HGH Monitoring & Agricultural Tourism Also on Tap
(TRENTON) – Assembly panels on Monday will consider legislation that stems from an August tragedy when a 3-month-old girl was thrown into a river after being allegedly abducted by her father, along with bills allowing mobile gaming, promoting electric vehicle usage, turning foreclosed properties into affordable housing and an array of new consumer protections.
Bills to improve protections for domestic violence victims, create a pilot program to improve services for senior citizens, require monitoring of human growth hormone prescriptions and promote agricultural tourism are also on tap, as is a hearing on the diminishing energy tax receipts revenue provided to municipalities.
Hearings are slated to start at 10 a.m. Audio of the hearings will be streamed live at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
Complete agendas are attached, but highlights include:
· A measure (A-2598) sponsored by Charles Mainor (D-Hudson) to clarify that an Amber Alert can be used when a family member abducts a child. It’s to be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee. The bill stems from the August tragedy when a 3-month-old girl was thrown from the Driscoll Bridge into the Raritan River after being allegedly abducted by her father.
· A bill (A-2575) to allow electronic gaming on mobile devices within an approved hotel facility. It’s sponsored by John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) and Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D-Hudson) and will be heard by the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee.
· The Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to consider legislation (A-2168) sponsored by Speaker Pro Tem Jerry Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset), Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Al Coutinho (D-Essex) and Mila Jasey (D-Essex) to promote turning foreclosed properties into affordable housing.
· The Assembly Budget Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to hear from mayors and the Christie administration on concerns about diminished energy tax receipts to municipalities.
· A bill (A-1227) to make it unlawful to send an unsolicited check that, upon being cashed, obligates the recipient to pay fees or enroll in any club, service or plan. It’s sponsored by Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden), Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland), Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D-Hudson) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and will be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.
· Legislation (A-1585) to prohibit automatic renewals of service contracts. It’s sponsored by Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). It will also be heard by the consumer affairs panel.
· A bill (A-2205) sponsored by Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) to invalidate consumer contracts that require a waiver of a right to file a consumer complaint. It will also be heard by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee.
· A bill (A-353) sponsored by Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) to establish a retirement community pilot program to try to improve services to senior citizens. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.
· Legislation (A-1827) to require the state to monitor human growth hormone prescriptions. It’s sponsored by Herb Conaway M.D. (D-Burlington), John McKeon (D-Essex/Morris), Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D-Hudson) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and will be heard by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.
· The Assembly Higher Education Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to hear from the Secretary of Higher Education and consider legislation (A-1176) to solidify the NJ STARS and NJ STARS II scholarship programs. The bill is sponsored by Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden), Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex), Gilbert “Whip” Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex).
· The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to discuss the state’s Energy Master Plan and its goal of adding offshore wind energy generation.
· A bill (A-321) sponsored by Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Thomas Giblin (D-Essex/Passaic) to allow for electronic monitoring of domestic violence offenders and notification to the victim. It will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
· A bill (A-566) to provide corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for buying and installing an electric vehicle charging station. It’s sponsored by Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex), Angel Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). It’s to be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
· A bill (A-323) sponsored by Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) to permit agricultural tourism events to be conducted on preserved farmland. It’s to be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Tourism and Arts Committee.