Out-of-State Law Enforcement Surveillance, Making it Easier to Create Regional Courts, Helmets-to-Hardhats, Help for Small Biz, Protecting Jersey Fresh & Enhancing Airport Security Also on Tap
(TRENTON) – Sweeping legislation to combat human trafficking and a bill to resolve a six-month backlog within the Christie administration for out-of-work New Jerseyans appealing the denial of unemployment benefits highlight Monday’s Assembly committee agendas.
Bills to require out-of-state law enforcement entities to provide notice before conducting surveillance in the state, asking voters to make it easier to create regional Municipal Courts to save money, creating the Helmets-to-Hardhats within the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, allowing more small, women or minority owned businesses to qualify for economic development loans, providing for the confiscation of falsely labeled Jersey Fresh agricultural products and establishing a crime of entering a restricted airport area are also on tap.
Hearings are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Audio will be streamed live at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
Highlights include:
· The Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection and Treatment Act (A-3352) sponsored by Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
The comprehensive legislation seeks to crack down on every aspect of trafficking by revising and expanding the state’s current laws to create a new human trafficking commission, criminalize additional activities related to human trafficking, upgrade certain penalties on existing human trafficking or related crimes, increase protections afforded to victims of human trafficking, and provide for increased training and public awareness on human trafficking issues.
For more information visit: https://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=5860
· A measure (A-3309) sponsored by Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Annette Quijano (D-Union) to combat a six-month backlog within the Christie administration for out-of-work New Jerseyans appealing the denial of unemployment benefits. It will be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Labor Committee.
· A bill (A-2948) to require out-of-state law enforcement entities to provide notice before conducting a surveillance operation in the state to the Attorney General, the superintendent of State Police and the chief law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction in which a surveillance operation is to take place. The bill is sponsored by Charles Mainor (D-Hudson) and will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Homeland Security panel.
· A two-bill package (A-1566 and ACR-88) to make it easier to create joint Municipal Courts to save taxpayers money. The bill would remove the governor and Senate’s roles in the appointment of central Municipal Court judges and instead allow them to be appointed by county officials. The bill is sponsored by John Wisniewski and Craig Coughlin (both D-Middlesex). The resolution asking voters to amend the state Constitution to allow for the change is sponsored by Wisniewski, Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon), John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) and Pam Lampitt and Lou Greenwald (both D-Camden/Burlington). The bills are to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
· A bill (A-2014) to create the Helmets-to-Hardhats within the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The jobs program aims to help veterans find work in the construction industry. The bill is sponsored by Troy Singleton (D-Burlington/Camden), Tom Giblin (D-Essex/Passaic), Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Annette Quijano (D-Union) and will be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
· A bill (A-2215) sponsored by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) to allow small, women or minority owned businesses in designated regional centers to qualify for Economic Development Authority loans. It will be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Women and Children Committee.
· A bill (A-2871) provide for the confiscation of falsely labeled “Jersey Fresh” agricultural products. It’s sponsored by Matthew Milam and Nelson Albano (both D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) and Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) and will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
· A measure (A-606) sponsored by Grace Spencer, Albert Coutinho (D-Essex) and Annette Quijano (D-Union) to establish a crime of entering a restricted airport area. It will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Homeland Security and Preparedness Committee.