Forgiving College Loans When a Student Dies, Tougher Penalties for Gun
Possession on School Campus, Boosting Solar Market, Addressing College Tuition Concerns & Suspending Medical License for Illegal Waste Disposal Also on Tap
(TRENTON) – Criminalizing repeat drunk driving after a Vineland man racked up five offenses in just over a month, giving an executor access to a executors access to a deceased person’s social media web sites amid reports of parents who fought to access a deceased child’s Facebook page, tougher penalties for violating the state’s ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving and stopping the governor’s proposed affordable housing fun raid top Thursday’s Assembly agendas.
Forgiving college loans when a student dies, tougher penalties for gun possession on a school campus, boosting the solar energy market, addressing college tuition concerns and suspending medical licenses for illegal waste disposal are also on tap.
Hearings will begin at 10 a.m., with audio streamed live at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
The complete agenda is attached.
Highlights include:
· A bill (A-3057) to criminalize repeat drunk driving offenses. It’s sponsored by Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam (both D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland), Charles Mainor (D-Hudson) and John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). The bill comes after a Vineland man has racked up five drunken driving offenses in just over a month. The bill will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.
· Legislation (A-2943) sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington) to allow executors access to a deceased person’s social media web sites. It’s to be heard at 11 a.m. by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee and comes amid reports of parents who fought to access a deceased child’s Facebook page.
· Legislation (A-2199 and A-1074) to make violating the state’s hands-free cell phone law as reckless under vehicular homicide and assault by auto statutes. The bills are sponsored by Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden), Charles Mainor (D-Hudson), Gabriela Mosquera (D-Gloucester/Camden), Annette Quijano (D-Union) and Albert Coutinho (D-Essex). They’ll be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.
· A bill to prevent Gov. Chris Christie from raiding affordable housing trust funds. The bill (A-2950) is sponsored by Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Jerry Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset). It will be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee.
· A measure (A-748) sponsored by Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex), Linda Stender (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset), Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset/Middlesex) and Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) to direct the state to forgive student loans in the event of a borrower’s death. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
· A bill (A-1888) to suspend the license of any medical professional who illegally disposes medical waste. It’s sponsored by Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam (both D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) and Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington). It stems from the 2008 incident in which several beaches were closed after a dentist dumped needles in the ocean. It will be heard at 1 p.m. by the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee.
· A bill (A-1216) sponsored by Linda Stender (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset) to upgrade the penalty for unlawful possession of a firearm on the grounds of an educational institution. It’s to be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee.
· Legislation (A-1083) sponsored by Annette Quijano (D-Union), Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington), Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) to require the state to develop and distribute student loan repayment information for high school students. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
· A bill (A-2966) sponsored by Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset/Middlesex) to reinvigorate New Jersey’s solar energy market. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee.
· Legislation (A-1521-1524) to slash red tape to help boost job creation sponsored by John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), Annette Quijano (D-Union), Ralph Caputo (D-Essex), Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D-Hudson), Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex). They’ll be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee.
· A bill (A-2144) to limit fees charged in connection with prepaid debit accounts. It’s sponsored by Linda Stender (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset), Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Benjie Wimberly (D-Passaic/Bergen), Marlene Caride (D-Bergen/Passaic) and Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.
· A bill (A-1277) sponsored by Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex) to increase production limitations for brewpubs. It’s to be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.