(TRENTON) – Creating a drug court for nonviolent offenders, outlawing tanning bed use by those under 18 years of age, making it easier for veterans to find jobs and child protections top Monday’s Assembly agendas.
Hearings are slated to start at 10 a.m. and will be streamed live at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
Complete agendas can be found at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/legcal.asp
Highlights include:
· Legislation (A-2883) sponsored by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) to establish a pilot program for mandatory sentencing to a drug court for nonviolent offenders. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
· A bill (A-2142) sponsored by Ralph Caputo (D-Essex), Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington), Herb Conaway M.D. (D-Burlington) and Pam Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington) to prohibit those under 18 years of age from using tanning beds. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Women and Children Committee.
· Two bills (A-355 and A-2829) regarding criminal record expungement to try to help nonviolent offenders become productive members of society, including those who complete a drug court sentence. They’re sponsored by Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon), Jerry Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset), Albert Coutinho (D-Essex) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). They’re also to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
· The Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee will meet at 10 a.m. at the Bordentown Armory to take a tour of the newly renovated facility and its family assistance center. The armory is to be a centerpiece of the state’s family assistance efforts.
· It will then consider legislation (A-2882) to promote the hiring of veterans by requiring professional boards to provide waivers or exceptions from licensing requirements for veterans with equivalent training. It’s sponsored by Matthew Milam (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland), Timothy Eustace (D-Bergen), Gabriela Mosquera (D-Gloucester/Camden) and Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex).
· Legislation (A-2448) requiring adoption agencies to maintain a child’s religion when placing the child in an adoptive home. It’s sponsored by Gary Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen) and will be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Women and Children Committee.
· A bill (A-2881) sponsored by Pam Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington) to require any child under DYFS care to enroll in a public or nonpublic school, unless home-schooling is approved by DYFS. It’s to be heard at 10 a.m. by the Assembly Women and Children Committee.
· A bill (A-495) sponsored by Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) to create a crime of threatening the life of an animal used by law enforcement. It’ll be heard at 2 p.m. by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural ReDests Committee.
· The Assembly transportation panel at 10 a.m. will consider a bill (A-2676) sponsored by Marlene Caride and Gary Schaer (both D-Passaic/Bergen) to designate Route 7 between Belleville and North Arlington the Lance Corporal Osbrany Montes de Oca Memorial Bridge. De Oca tragically lost his life on Feb. 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
