Bills Part of Assembly Dem Job Creation & Economic Growth Effort;
Internet Gaming & Combating Foreclosure Crisis Also on Tap
(TRENTON) – Numerous job creation measures advanced as part of the Assembly Democratic job creation and economic development effort highlight Monday’s Assembly agenda, including bills to provide job training to out-of-work residents, entice businesses to hire the unemployed, combat workforce shortages, find jobs for veterans and spark the manufacturing and technology industries.
Bills to combat the foreclosure crisis allow Internet gaming via Atlantic City casinos and ask voters to promote property taxpayers savings by making it easier to share Municipal Court services are also on tap.
The session is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. It will be streamed live at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
The agenda is attached. Highlights include:
· The Back to Work NJ bill to provide workplace training for unemployment compensation recipients (A-3580). It’s sponsored by Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic), Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington), Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen), John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), Connie Wagner (D-Bergen/Passaic), Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden).
· The New Jobs for New Jersey Act to award businesses that hire out-of-work New Jerseyans (A-3312). It’s sponsored by John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Wayne DeAngelo and Daniel R. Benson (both D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Albert Coutinho (D-Essex).
· A bill to combat New Jersey’s foreclosure crisis (A-3372) by requiring the Christie administration to expand participation in the New Jersey Home Keeper Program. It’s sponsored by Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Annette Quijano (D-Union), Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Connie Wagner and Tim Eustace (both D-Bergen/Passaic).
· A bill (A-2578) to authorize Internet gaming at Atlantic City casinos. It’s sponsored by John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) and Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D-Hudson).
· A bill (A-1084) to provide corporate and income tax credits for investing in emerging technology companies. It’s sponsored by Annette Quijano (D-Union), Gary Schaer (D-Bergen/Passaic), Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland), Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer/Middlesex).
· A bill (A-3581) to ensure wages and benefits are properly paid to workers. It’s sponsored by Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic), Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex) and Shavonda Sumter (D-Passaic/Bergen).
· The Garden State Manufacturing Jobs Act (A-3582) sponsored by Gabriela Mosquera (D-Gloucester/Camden).
· Legislation (A-955) to help create jobs by establishing a workforce shortage loan redemption program. It’s sponsored by Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic), Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington), Mila Jasey (D-Essex/Morris), Connie Wagner (D-Bergen/Passaic), Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon).
· A measure (A-1133) to authorize a local contract set-aside program for business enterprises that are owned by or employ veterans. It’s sponsored by Angel Fuentes and Gilbert L. “Whip” Wilson (both D-Camden/Gloucester), Herb Conaway, M.D. (D-Burlington) and Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex).
· A bill (A-1271) to allow tax credits for wages paid to interns. It’s sponsored by Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex), Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington), Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex) and Daniel. R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex).
· Legislation (A-2005) to provide tax credits for qualified investment in biotechnology businesses. It’s sponsored by Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex), Tim Eustace (D-Bergen/Passaic) and Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset/Middlesex).
· A bill (A-2014) to create the Helmets to Hardhats pilot program in the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. It’s sponsored by Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Tom Giblin (D-Essex/Passaic), Daniel R. Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Annette Quijano (D-Union).
· Legislation (A-2015) to establish the New Jersey Innovation Inspiration School Grant Program. It’s sponsored by Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), Connie Wagner (D-Bergen/Passaic), Benjie Wimberly (D-Passaic/Bergen) and Celeste Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland).
· Three corporate governance reform bills (A-3049-3050-3123) sponsored by Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex) and John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland).
· Three bills (A-3319-3321-3323/3324) to cut bureaucratic red tape and make New Jersey more business friendly. They’re sponsored by John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D-Hudson) and Benjie Wimberly (D-Passaic/Bergen).
· 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).