Honoring NJ National Guard for Sandy Response, Improved Mold Inspection & Abatement, Tougher Animal Cruelty Laws, Help for Parents of Developmentally Disabled Also on Tap
(TRENTON) – A hearing on the condition of New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure following Hurricane Sandy and testimony on how those with developmental disabilities and those who cannot afford legal assistance were impacted by the storm top Monday’s Assembly agendas, along with a bill to ask voters to authorize $100 million for flood prevention and another to ensure workers compensation for first responders disabled during terrorist attacks or other emergencies.
Bills to honor the New Jersey National Guard for its response to Sandy, improve mold inspection and abatement, toughen animal cruelty laws, increase compensation for wrongful imprisonment and help parents of persons with developmental disabilities are also on tap.
The hearings are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. They will be streamed live at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
The agenda is attached. Highlights include:
· The Assembly transportation panel at 10 a.m. will hear testimony from the state Department of Transportation, NJ Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority the South Jersey Transportation Authority on the condition of the state’s transportation infrastructure following Hurricane Sandy. The public is also welcome to testify.
· The Assembly Judiciary Committee at 10 a.m. will hear testimony from the legal community on the services available to victims of Hurricane Sandy who cannot afford legal assistance.
· The Assembly Human Services Committee will meet at 1 p.m. to hear testimony on storm preparedness following Hurricane Sandy for persons with developmental disabilities and other vulnerable residents.
· The Blue Acres Floodplain Protection Bond Act of 2012 sponsored by Connie Wagner and Tim Eustace (both D-Bergen/Passaic) and John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). The bill would ask voters to authorize $100 million for the acquisition of lands that have been damaged by, or may be prone to incurring damage, caused by storms or storm-related flooding, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage. It will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
· The Assembly Labor Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to consider the Thomas P. Canzanella Twenty First Century First Responders Protection Act (A-1196), which creates a presumption of workers’ compensation coverage for any death or disability that arises from the physical or psychological impact of stress or injury experienced by a public safety worker engaged in response to a terrorist attack, epidemic or other catastrophic emergency. It’s sponsored by Linda Stender (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) and Joseph Egan (D-Middlesex).
· The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to consider legislation (A-1588) requiring the state to establish mold hazard standards for residential buildings and certify programs for mold inspection and abatement. It’s sponsored by Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) and Connie Wagner (D-Bergen/Passaic).
· The Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to honor the New Jersey National Guard for its service during Hurricane Sandy (AR-119). The bill is sponsored by Ralph Caputo and Cleopatra Tucker (both D-Essex), Whip Wilson (D-Camden/Gloucester), Joseph Egan (D-Middlesex) and Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and Pamela R. Lampitt (both D-Camden/Burlington).
· The Judiciary panel will also consider legislation to establish a civil cause of action for gender-motivated violence (A-746). It’s sponsored by Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex), L. Grace Spencer (D-Essex) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).
· The Judiciary Committee will also consider legislation sponsored by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) to increase compensation for wrongful imprisonment (A-3066).
· The Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to consider tougher penalties for animal cruelty (A-798/A2124). The bills are sponsored by L. Grace Spencer (D-Essex), John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) and Angel Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester).
· The Human Services panel will also consider legislation (A-1134) to create a bill of rights for the parents of persons with developmental disabilities. It’s sponsored by Angel Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).
· The Assembly State Government Committee will meet at 2 p.m. to consider a bill that would prohibit a person from contracting for public work if the person is barred from receiving a federal contract. It’s sponsored by Troy Singleton and Herb Conaway, M.D. (both D-Burlington) and John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland).